If the Holy See is to grant International Shrine status to Medjugorje, then careful scrutiny of liturgical practices is part of the process, and where any practices and customs are deemed not to be in harmony with criteria laid down for Shrine status, then changes are necessary in order to match the standards required.

In reaching its decision on Shrine status, the Holy See will not be focusing on personalities, priests, bishops and visionaries. It will not be deciding on the question of the apparitions. It will be guided by the Canon and Liturgical Law of the Church appertaining to Shrines and their status.

The Code of Canon Law (1983) includes the following Canons relating to Shrines:

Canon 1230 The term shrine means a church or other sacred place which, with the approval of the local Ordinary, is by reason of special devotion frequented by the faithful as pilgrims.

"I am convinced, as is also Pope John Paul II, that the time of the Jubilee is a time of special grace, as John Paul II has said several times, that is preparing a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church. That which I am expecting from Medjugorje is that it contribute to the preparation of that new outpouring of the Holy Spirit which the Church and the world need."

Just over a week ago, Msgr André-Joseph Léonard was appointed Archbishop of Brussels by Pope Benedict XVI, on January 18, 2010, and so became Primate of Belgium.

When he was first made a bishop in 1991, Msgr Léonard added the name Mutien to his first name, in honour of his brother. On becoming Archbishop of Mechlen-Brussles he changed the name Mutien to Joseph, in honour of St Joseph, patron saint of Belgium.

Archbishop Léonard was born in May 1940 and is one of four brother who all became priests. He was ordained a priest in July 1964. Twenty years later he made his first ever visit to Medjugojre. On a second visit to Medjugorje when he was bishop of the Belgian city Namur, Msgr Léonard gave this interview to the late Fr Slavko Barbaric OFM which was published in the Medjugorje parish magazine Glas Mira:

(Source: Children of Medjugorje January 2010 Newsletter)

Cardinal had a private audience with the Holy Father on January 15th.

After that, he wrote from Rome a letter to the Bishop of Mostar, saying, “I have received your recent letter dated 2 January. I regret if you have the impression that my pilgrimage to Medjugorje did a disservice to peace. Rest assured that this was not my intention…The Mother of God and her divine Son will certainly lead all things towards that which is good. In this trust, I greet you fraternally united in the Lord and remain yours, + Christoph Card. Schönborn O.P. "

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, will visit Mostar on January 23 to ordain Msgr Petar Rajic as an Archbishop. Msgr Rajic is appointed by the Pope as Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, and as Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula. His parents are from Doljai, in the diocese of Trebinje-Mrkan. Let’s pray hard that this special visit may bring deep understanding and true peace between Mostar, Medjugorje and Rome!