On Thursday, September 19, 2024, the Vatican will announce its position on the apparitions in Medjugorje. The press conference will be attended by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez and Monsignor Armando Matteo, representatives of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Context and expectations

Since 1981, Medjugorje has been a place of pilgrimage for millions, although ecclesiastical authorities have shown skepticism. The press conference comes after four months of new guidelines from the Dicastery on supernatural phenomena.

History and debate

The apparitions in Medjugorje began in 1981 when six young people claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary. Although the first official investigation did not confirm the super naturality of the visions, the debate has continued since then. The Vatican formed a commission in 2010 that in 2014 concluded that the early apparitions were “probably authentic.” However, Pope Francis has called for further investigations and in 2021 appointed a delegate for Medjugorje.

Expectations for the statement

The Vatican is expected to issue a new statement, possibly following the “Curator” approach suggested in the May 2024 norms. This would involve acknowledging some problems without banning the phenomenon, and suggesting alternatives for devotion.

The Sept. 19 conference could provide clarity on the Vatican’s official stance on Medjugorje, an issue that has generated both devotion and controversy.