Blessed John Paul II expressed a desire to visit Medjugorje on more than one occasion. Confirmation of this wish was actually transmitted to the Medjugorje parish and the local bishop by the former President of Croatia Dr Franjo Tudjman.
The late Fr Slavko Barbaric OFM revealed this fact in March 1997, shortly before the visit of the Croatia President to Bosnia Herzegovina in April 1997. Writing in his commentary notes on the message of March 25, 1997 Fr Slavko said:
“On Saturday, March 15, Medjugorje had an important visit in that the President of Croatia, Dr. Franjo Tudjman, came here after an official visit in Mostar. Many locals welcomed him, as he did them, and then he came into the Parish Office where he spoke with the Priests. Present were also the Provincial, Fra Tomislav Pervan, and the Bishop of Mostar, Mons. Ratko Peric. The President emphasized that the Holy Father had told him twice that he wishes to come to Medjugorje when he comes to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is certainly very important for us all to know this and not to forget it.”
Although the Pope had expressed his wish to visit Medjugorje when he travelled to Bosnia Herzegovina the following month, his desire was not fulfilled. News agencies reported that in a papal audience held after the visit the Pope said: “In the course of the war pilgrimages of the faithful to the Marian shrine in Bosnia Herzegovina did not stop as also not in other parts of the world, especially in Loreto, in order to request the Mother of Nations and the Queen of Peace to intervene in that suffering region.”
