Recent important events related to Medjugorje and the Holy See
In 2018, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Henryk Hoser as the “Apostolic Visitor” to Medjugorje who was then succeeded by Archbishop Aldo Cavalli who is the which is the current one.
Pope authorises pilgrimages to Medjugorje
On May 12, 2019, The Holy See officially announced that Dioceses and Parishes throughout the world are now authorized to organize pilgrimages to Medjugorje. The document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith approved by Pope Francis does not speak of the supernatural, „care to prevent these pilgrimages from being interpreted as an authentication of known events, which still require examination by the Church, but acknowledges the abundant spiritual fruits associated with the parish-shrine of the Queen of Peace.
On May 15, 2021, Medjugorje was involved in a prayer marathon that included 30 other shrines from around the world in prayer for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, which was called by Pope Francis.
Nihil obstat – Note About the Spiritual Experience Connected with Medjugorje
On September 19, 2024 Pope Francis grants approval for Medjugorje devotion!
The conclusions expressed in this Note are presented in the context of what was established in the new Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena (Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, 17 May 2024; “Norms”).
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the assent of Pope Francis, grants approval for devotion linked to Medjugorje, recognizing the abundant spiritual fruits received at the Sanctuary of the Queen of Peace without making a declaration on the supernatural character of the Marian apparitions. “Many positive fruits have been noted in the midst of a spiritual experience, while negative and dangerous effects have not spread among the People of God.“
The places linked to the Medjugorje phenomenon have become pilgrimage destinations for people from around the world.
„The positive fruits are most evident in the promotion of a healthy practice of a life of faith, in accordance with the tradition of the Church.
Abundant conversions of people are taking place who have discovered or rediscovered their faith, many people have returned to confession and sacramental communion, and numerous vocations have been confirmed, as well as many reconciliations between spouses, and the renewal of marriage and family life.
Numerous healings have also been reported. The parish of the small village in Herzegovina has grown into a place of worship, prayer, seminars, spiritual retreats, youth gatherings. People seem to visit Medjugorje mainly to renew their faith rather than to seek help with specific requests.”
The Dicastery’s Note continues by examining the central aspects of the messages, starting with that of peace understood not only as the absence of war but also in a spiritual, familial, and social sense. The most original title that Mary attributes to herself is indeed “Queen of Peace.”
„I have presented myself here as the Queen of Peace to tell everyone that peace is necessary for the salvation of the world. Only in God can you find true joy, which is the source of true peace. Therefore, I ask for conversion“ (June 16, 1983).
The title “Queen of Peace” corresponds to the title “King of Peace”, which is attributed to Jesus:
“I call on you, dear children, so that your life may be united with him. Jesus is the King of Peace, and only he can give you the peace that you seek. I am with you, and I present you to Jesus” (December 25, 1995).
The Action of the Holy Spirit
Many messages call upon us to recognize the importance of asking for the help of the Holy Spirit:
“Start by invoking the Holy Spirit every day. The most important thing is to pray to the Holy Spirit. For, everything is transformed and becomes clear when the Holy Spirit descends upon you” (November 25, 1983).
“Before the Mass, it is necessary to pray to the Holy Spirit. Prayers to the Holy Spirit should always accompany the Mass” (November 26, 1983).
God at the center
“We can see a nucleus of messages in which Our Lady does not place herself at the center but shows herself to be fully directed toward our union with God. The intercession and work of Mary are shown to be clearly subordinate to Jesus Christ, who is the author of grace and salvation for every person.“ Mary intercedes, but it is Christ who „gives the strength. Therefore, her whole maternal work consists in motivating us to turn to Christ.“
„He will give you strength and joy in this time. I am close to you with my intercession“ (November 25, 1993).
The Centrality of the Mass
For the faithful, prayer finds its culmination in the celebration of the Eucharist:
“The Mass is the highest form of prayer. You will never be able to understand its greatness” (January 13, 1984).
“Dear children, also today, in a special way, I wish to call you to the Eucharist. May the Mass be the center of your lives! In particular, dear children, may the Eucharist be in your families. The family must go to Holy Mass and celebrate Jesus. Jesus must be the center of your lives!” (June 15, 2018).
Call to conversion
Here is „constant call to abandon a worldly lifestyle and excessive attachment to worldly goods appears in the messages, along with frequent calls for conversion, which makes true peace in the world possible.“
“Dear children! Today I call you to conversion. This is the most important message I have given you here” (February 25, 1996).
Conversion
Our Lady insistent exhortation us not to underestimate the gravity of evil and sin, and to take very seriously God’s call to fight against evil and the influence of Satan, „indicated as the source of hatred, violence and division.“
Prayer and fasting are also essential to the message of Medjugorje, as well as the centrality of the Mass, the importance of fraternal communion, and the search for the ultimate meaning of existence in eternal life.
Synthesis of the Gospel
The messages overall possess great value and express the constant teachings of the Gospel in different words.
When Our Lady says „my plan“ and „my project“, it is always in the service of the Lord’s plan and His divine plan of salvation.
Authorization of public worship
“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.”
However, each diocesan bishop has the freedom and authority to make prudent decisions regarding “groups or persons who, by misusing this spiritual phenomenon, act in a mistaken way” in his own diocese.
Dicastery invites pilgrims who visit Medjugorje “to be strongly advised that pilgrimages are not made to meet with alleged visionaries but to have an encounter with Mary, the Queen of Peace, who is the mediator to Christ, King of Peace.”
Queen of Peace, pray that those who freely accept the spiritual proposal of Medjugorje may live ever more united with Jesus Christ and find true peace of heart in him. To you, we also entrust this world of ours, which is succumbing to a “third world war fought piecemeal.” Queen of Peace, hear the plea that rises from the hearts of children, young people, the poor, and every person of goodwill.
“Thank you, our Mother! Looking to you, who are without sin, may we continue to believe and hope that love might conquer hatred, that truth might conquer lies, that pardon might conquer offenses, that peace might conquer war. So may it be!” (Pope Francis, Prayer to Mary Immaculate, 8 December 2022).
Given in Rome, at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, 19 September 2024.
Víctor Manuel Card. Fernández
Prefect
Msgr. Armando Matteo
Secretary for the Doctrinal Section
Ex Audientia Die 28.08.2024
(You can read the entire note at: https://www.medjugorje.hr/en/news/dicastery-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-note-about-the-spiritual-experience-connected-with-medjugorje,13898.html)( Or https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-09/pope-francis-ddf-note-nulla-osta-approval-medjugorje-devotion.html )