Pope Francis has today formally granted approval for public devotion linked to Medjugorje – the pilgrimage site in Bosnia and Herzegovina which draws thousands of Irish pilgrims annually.
In 1981, six children and teenagers reported seeing visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary on a hill located in remote, wine-making region of Southern Bosnia. To this day, the “seers” have claimed to continue to see Our Lady, with three out of six of the purported visionaries claiming to have daily apparitions during which the Madonna sends them both private and public messages.
During a press conference held today (Thursday morning), the Vatican announced that a ‘Nulla Ostra’ has now been granted for Medjugorje – a phrase traditionally used by Catholic Church authorities to formally declare that there is no objection to the publication of a book, or to some other proposed action.
The status was granted by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith – which is the highest body of the Catholic Church for matters of doctrine of faith and morals.
It is the most significant decision regarding the place of pilgrimage so far regarding a supernatural phenomenon.
The decision recognises the “abundant spiritual fruits” received by pilgrims at the alleged apparition site in the otherwise Un extraordinary village in Southern Bosnia, without making a declaration on the supernatural character of the Marian apparitions.
It follows the 2018 appointment of an apostolic visitor, currently Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, to oversee the spiritual elements linked to visits to Medjugorje. Rome’s verdict comes alongside a 17-page note published on eight languages and approved by Pope Francis, entitled “The Queen of Peace.”
As reported by Vatican News, the decision recognises “abundant conversions” of people who have discovered or rediscovered their faith, many people have returned to confession and sacramental communion. Meanwhile, numerous vocations have been confirmed, as well as “many reconciliations between spouses, and the renewal of marriage and family life.”
Speaking today at the press conference attended by journalists from international publications including the New York Times and others, the Pope said in a statement: “God in his mysterious ways in his mysterious plans even in the midst of human imperfection has found a way in Medjugorje to let a river of goodness and beauty flow and it will, probably, continue to do so.”
The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, gave the “nihil obstat,” telling reporters in Rome:
“While this does not imply a declaration of the supernatural character of the phenomenon in question — and recalling that the faithful are not obliged to believe in it — the Nihil obstat indicates that the faithful can receive a positive encouragement for their Christian life through this spiritual proposal, and it authorizes public acts of devotion.”
The note continues: “It is important to clarify from the outset that the conclusions of this Note do not imply a judgment about the moral life of the alleged visionaries,” and, in any case, the spiritual gifts “do not necessarily require those involved to have moral perfection.”
The decision doesn’t require Catholics to believe in the Medjugorje phenomenon, but allows them to.
In 2023 alone, 1.7 million Eucharistic wafers were distributed during Masses in Medjugorje, according to statistics published by the shrine – giving a rough estimate of the numbers or pilgrims who visited. During Thursday’s press conference, it was claimed that some 47 million Eucharistic hosts have been distributed there since January 1985.
The Vatican said today that Catholic faithful “must be attentive and cautious” in interpreting the alleged messages from Mary.