The background to Medjugorje begins with the relationship between the Franciscans and the Diocesan Clergy. At the onset of WW2 the Diocesan clergy left to go to a place of safety. The Franciscans stayed with their flock. When the Diocesan Clergy returned at the end of the war, they expected the Franciscan Clergy to vacate the Churches and let them ( the Diocesan Clergy) take over again. The people preferred the ministry of the Franciscans.
Initially when the apparitions began, Bishop Zanic was supportive , and positive towards the young people and the visions.
Quoting from a book I bought in Medugorje over twenty years ago ’ The Truth about Medjugorje’ by Dr. Ljudevit Rupeic - The communist and (officially) atheist state management in Yugoslavia began to take note of the fact that the Bishop of Mostar’s positive stance toward the apparitions- expressed clearly in his oral and written statements, as well as in his public appearances- stood in contrast to the official state attitude toward the events, namely that the apparitions were counter revolutionary…
…Officials of the State Security Police summoned Zanic to Sarajevo and there threatened to imprison him unless he stopped speaking in favour of the apparitions. Their threats worked impressively on the bishop who returned to Mostar another man.
Later on, the bishop told Fr. Jozo, I cannot expose myself anymore, I am not ready to go to prison for Medjugorje."