Bishop Zanic released through the press worldwide, a third negative statement on Medjugorje. The authority examining the apparitions at Medjugorje had been placed under the Bishops Conference of Yugoslavia (BCY) since January 9, 1987. Though Bishop Zanic was allowed his opinion, the decision regarding Medjugorje was no longer in his hands. These facts were rarely stated in news articles regarding Medjugorje, the majority of the articles leaned towards the sensational. But in reality, the Church, particularly Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger desired patience in regards to the apparitions, especially in light of the increasing fruit of conversion that was apparent worldwide through Medjugorje.
