Vatican's stance on Medjugorje apparitions raises new discussion
1:19 PM EDT, September 20, 2024
The issue of Marian apparitions in Medjugorje stirs considerable controversy among the faithful and those outside the Church. Some are convinced of the events' authenticity, while others harbor significant doubts. Recently, the Vatican has taken a stand.
The apparitions in the Bosnian town of Medjugorje reportedly began in 1981 when six young people allegedly experienced visions of the Virgin Mary. Believers claim these visions continue to this day. The Catholic Church has been investigating the authenticity of these apparitions for over 40 years. So far, it has neither rejected nor confirmed them. Now, the Vatican has made a definitive statement.
The Vatican speaks on the apparitions in Medjugorje
On September 19, the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a document approved by Pope Francis, which generally evaluates the message from Medjugorje positively. It recognizes numerous spiritual fruits associated with the parish and the Queen of Peace sanctuary but does not resolve the question of the phenomena's supernatural nature.
The document notes many conversions, returns to confession and communion, vocations, reconciliations between spouses, and healings. The statement's authors emphasized that "such experiences occur above all in the context of pilgrimages to the places associated with the original events rather than in meetings with the 'visionaries' to be present for the alleged apparitions."
Should the faithful believe in the apparitions in Medjugorje?
The document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith does not prohibit people from continuing their pilgrimages, as it adopts the formula "nihil obstat," meaning nothing stands in the way. However, this does not imply recognition of the supernatural nature of these apparitions and does not obligate the Church's faithful to acknowledge the divine origin of the phenomena purportedly occurring in Medjugorje.
The Dicastery encourages pilgrims visiting the Bosnian place of worship to "accept that pilgrimages there take place not to meet with the alleged witnesses of the apparitions, but with Mary, the Queen of Peace".
