The Pope interviewed by journalists during return flight from Sarajevo

Vatican City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) – Medjugorje, a possible visit to Croatia, the need to make peace and not merely to talk about it, and the use of new technologies by young people were some of the issues the Pope reflected upon as he conversed with the journalists who accompanied him on the return flight to Rome following his apostolic trip in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

With regard to Medjugorje, which is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Francis recalled that Benedict XVI had instituted a commission of theologians and specialists, chaired by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, which had studied the matter in depth and, although the definitive final meeting has not yet taken place, it is expected that the results will be communicated shortly.

In relation to Croatia, he mentioned that during his first trip in Europe, in Albania, he had said that he would like to visit the continent starting from its smallest countries. “In the Balkans, there are martyred countries which have suffered greatly and this is why my preference is here”.

“It is not enough to talk about peace, peace must be made. To speak about peace without making it is contradictory, and those who speak about peace while promoting war, for example through the sale of weapons, are hypocrites. It is very simple”, he said in response to a question linked to his meeting with the young in which he spoke about the fomentation of a climate of war.

Finally, with reference to virtual communication, he affirmed that virtual language is “a reality that we cannot deny: we must lead it onto a virtuous path, as it is a form of progress for humanity. But when this draws us away from life together, from family life, as well as from sport and art, and stay attached to the computer, this is a psychological malady”.