South America cut off from Međugorje
Editor Robert Bubalo

From this autumn a whole continent will be cut off from the possibility of going on pilgrimage to Međugorje. Or more precisely – from now on, only the patient and the wealthy inhabitants of Latin America will be visiting this Shrine.

Up till now it was difficult, sincethe BiH imposed visas for pilgrims, but still the people kept coming through the Embassy in Buenos Aires, the only one on the South American continent. Now, by the decision of the BiH Presidency the credentials of the only Diplomatic Consular Embassy on the continent have been rescinded.

Now the citizens of Brazil, Argentina and other Latin America countries will have to go to other countries to get visas. Whether the USA, Spain or Italy actually give them does not matter, the regulations are that the person requiring the visa must come for it in person, and the procedure takes a few days. This means that the pilgrims will have to spend several days in a third country to get the visa and then depart for Međugorje. Yet there is no doubt that the pilgrims from South America will findthemeans and the patience to make their way to Međugorje. Up to now, despite visas and great distances, thousands of pilgrims came from these countries every year. Up till now it also required a lot of patience to start from certain parts of Argentina to Buenos Aires and wait for days for the visa. And the same applied to Brazil and Chile. And those are just the areas where people are strongly attached emotionally to Međugorje; people who are starved of any possible information, and ask pilgrims who have visited Međugorje to tell them all the details. Now, after the only Embassy's credentials have been rescinded, only a few from South America will be able to go to this remote place of pilgrimage.

This is a bad thing for pilgrims and for Međugorje as well, since Međugorje embraces all people from all over the world, of any class, colour or creed. Just like 26 years ago, when the children witnessed the firstApparitions,and when the Communists were arresting the Friars and putting them into dungeons, so it is nowadays the State Summit, democratically elected though it is, opposing Međugorje.

The opposition of the Government towards Međugorje is permanently present, and this despite the fact that Međugorje brings the State enormous sums of money from the influx of tourists into the country on pilgrimage. At the same time the State is doing nothing in order to improve the infrastructure, mend the roads and pavements, and prevent the unplanned buildings and apartments growing into an untidy sprawl around the Shrine.

Dear readers, and from this number we are addressing you on all continents, (of course, South America also),

I trust you will find again interesting stories in our magazine, words of comfort and hope, and some useful information for you and your family. We are still in the infancy stage. We are spreading the distribution network, and we often come across particular unexpected obstacles. We gather associates as well, and with each number we are gathering more, from various parts of the world, just as the people of different cultures meet in Međugorje. All these things are delaying the process of magazine creation, but we have decided to develop the project slowly in order to maintain quality, and try to be even better and more interesting. I am certain that this number means a step forward as well, and we have prepared very interesting stories, some of them a bit intriguing, but all in all there are reasons enough for you to remain faithful to our magazine. And please write to us, suggest, and criticise...

Of course I hope the magazine shall, at the very least, fill the gap that has been created for the people of Latin America, whose path towards the Queen of Peace has been made more difficult.

(editor@medugorjetribune.com)