The Vatican on Thursday approved the
spiritual devotion centred in Medjugorie, Bosnia, over its
"positive fruit" for Catholics.
The green light to the cult of a pilgrimage site where the
Virgin Mary is alleged to have appeared came from the Vatican's
doctrinal office with Pope Francis' approval.
The pontiff approved the document recognizing "the goodness of
the spiritual fruits linked to Medjugorje, authorizing the
faithful to adhere to it" since "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", said
the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
While noting that the overall judgment of the messages is
positive, the document however said this did not imply that it
was declaring as authentic the alleged supernatural events, but
rather stating that the spiritual phenomenon was beneficial to
pilgrims.
And while not expressing judgement on the morals of those who
have claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary at the site since
1981, the Dicastery urged 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."
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
