The Queen of Peace of Medjugorje
Europe · Bosnia and Herzegovina
What happened
On June 24, 1981, six young people from the village of Medjugorje claimed to have seen a "lady" with a Child in her arms on Podbrdo Hill, whom they identified as the Virgin Mary, calling her "Gospa" (Our Lady). Since then, there have been reports of apparitions to some of the visionaries and of messages directed to the world. There are also mentions of "secrets" communicated to the visionaries between 1981 and 1985. The phenomenon has continued for an exceptionally long period, unprecedented among approved apparitions, which has prompted a particularly serious examination.
The message
The messages being disseminated focus on conversion, peace, prayer—especially the Rosary—the Eucharist, fasting, and frequent confession. These calls, in their essential content, coincide with what the Church has always preached: returning to God, praying, and living the sacraments.
The sanctuary or place today
Medjugorje has become a popular pilgrimage destination and a major center for confessions. Numerous priests attest to spending long hours in the confessional, and moral and sacramental conversion is the most frequently cited outcome. In May 2019, Pope Francis authorized the organization of pilgrimages, clarifying that this did not imply recognition of the supernatural.
The Church's position
In 2024, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published the document "The Queen of Peace" on Medjugorje. The Church granted a "nihil obstat," that is, it authorized public worship of the Queen of Peace and pilgrimages, based on the many positive fruits observed, but without recognizing the supernatural character of the phenomenon. The document emphasizes that the faithful are not obliged to believe in the apparitions and that the positive assessment of most of the messages does not imply declaring that they have a directly supernatural origin; furthermore, it clarifies that pilgrimages are made to experience prayer and faith, not to meet with alleged visionaries. This is in line with the Dicastery's Norms of May 2024, according to which, as a general rule, the supernatural nature of these phenomena is no longer declared, but rather the most favorable judgment is a "nihil obstat" that permits pastoral action without affirming a divine origin; only the Pope can authorize a process for a possible declaration of supernaturality.
Prudence and discernment
The Church itself asks us to distinguish between genuine spiritual fruits and the interpretation of phenomena. The "nihil obstat" authorizes devotion, but it does not equate to approving the messages as private divine revelation, nor does it oblige belief in apparitions. Therefore, the recommended approach is to practice Marian devotion and pilgrimage without absolutizing the messages or basing faith on supposed private revelations. The essential elements—prayer, the sacraments, and the Rosary—are always good and do not require the Church to pronounce on extraordinary events.
Link with the Rosary
The Rosary occupies a central place in the spirituality associated with Medjugorje, where people are strongly encouraged to pray it every day. This invitation fully aligns with what the Church has always promoted: contemplating the mysteries of Christ with Mary.