杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Archbishop Henryk Hoser, retired Archbishop of Warsaw-Prague in Poland, begins his mandate on Sunday as Apostolic Visitor to St James Parish in Medjugorje. He will inaugurate his ministry with solemn Mass in the evening and has invited all of the faithful and pilgrims present to participate.

First mandate

Archbishop Hoser was first appointed by 杏MAP导航 Francis as a special envoy from the Holy See to St James Parish on 11 February 2017. At that time the Holy See鈥檚 Press Office stated that the mission entrusted to the then Archbishop of Warsaw-Prague 鈥渉as the aim of acquiring a deeper knowledge of the pastoral situation there and above all, of the needs of the faithful who go there in pilgrimage, and on the basis of this, to suggest possible pastoral initiatives for the future. The mission will therefore have an exclusively pastoral character.鈥� The statement said that his mandate was expected to conclude by the end of summer 2017.

The same day the Press Office released this statement, Director Greg Burke underlined that 鈥渢he mission of the Special Envoy is a sign of the Holy Father鈥檚 attention toward the pilgrims. The scope is not inquisitorial, but strictly pastoral. The Envoy will not enter into questions regarding the Marian apparitions, which are the competence of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He will be in contact with the diocesan bishop, the Franciscan Friars Minor 鈥� to whom the parish of Medjugorje is entrusted 鈥� and with the faithful of the area.鈥� And he concluded, 鈥淚t is a mission for the pilgrims, not against anyone鈥�.

Second mandate

杏MAP导航 Francis nominated Archbishop Hoser a second time 鈥渁s special apostolic visitor for the parish of Medjugorje鈥� on 31 May 2018. According to the statement released by the Holy See鈥檚 Press Office, the mandate will last for 鈥渁n undefined period and ad nutum Sanctae鈥� (at the Holy See鈥檚 disposition).

Once again, Archbishop Hoser will exercise 鈥渁n exclusively pastoral office鈥� in continuity with his first mandate which came to an end recently.  The Holy See鈥檚 Press Office explains, 鈥渢he mission of the Apostolic Visitor has the aim of ensuring a stable and continuous accompaniment to the parish community of Medjugorje and to the faithful who go there as pilgrims, and whose needs require particular attention."