In Bosnia-Herzegovina, authorities are examining the vandalism of a Virgin Mary statue and a shrine damaged by a fire overnight in a southern village. This location is a favored site for Catholic pilgrims. Two years ago, the Vatican permitted Catholic pilgrimages to Medjugorje. In Medjugorje, children claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary, making it a contentious spot in recent Roman Catholic devotion.
Local media images showed the statue of Our Lady with its face and hands painted black. An inscription in English on the pedestal read, ‘Devil in a skirt.’ In 1981, six children and teenagers reported seeing the Virgin on a hill in Medjugorje, a region known for wine production in southern Bosnia. Some of these original ‘visionaries’ claim the visions continue regularly, sometimes daily, and that Mary sends messages.
Nearby, a banner was found on a fence with the names of the visionaries. A message written in Polish stated, ‘They are frauds, I have proof.’ The Vatican’s doctrinal office did not assert that the supposed appearances in Medjugorje were authentic or supernatural. They mentioned concerns about contradictions in the messages received over the years.
In line with new Vatican guidelines, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith concluded that the positive ‘spiritual fruits’ from the Medjugorje experience justified allowing faithful pilgrimages. It also authorized public acts of devotion there. The 2024 decision alleviated years of doubt on the authenticity of the reported apparitions by previous diocesan bishops and Vatican experts. It overlooked concerns about the economic interests that have turned Medjugorje into a successful religious tourism destination.
This story was translated from English by an AP editor with AI assistance.