Vatican decision sparks big surge in Međugorje pilgrimages

• by croatiaweek
 
• June 26, 2025
 
• in News

Apparition Hill (Photo credit: Michał Maksymilian Gwozdek/Public domain license)

ZAGREB, 25 June  (Hina) – On the 44th anniversary of the reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary, the number of pilgrims gathering at the Catholic Marian shrine of Međugorje is on the rise, following the Vatican’s issuance of the so-called nihil obstat decision.

In September 2024, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the assent of Pope Francis, granted approval for devotion linked to Međugorje, recognising 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, the Holy See’s Vatican News website said then.

The parish priest in Međugorje, Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić, said today that a noticeable increase in pilgrim numbers has been observed since the Note from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith was published last year.

“The only thing that has changed is that now people are coming who hadn’t come before,” said Fr. Pavičić. He added that many of the new pilgrims, who were previously sceptical, have now been encouraged by the Vatican’s stance, which has led to a rise in pilgrimage numbers.

According to the local tourist board, tens of thousands of pilgrims arrived for the 44th anniversary of the Marian apparitions.

According to its director, Ante Kozina, in addition to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, the largest organised pilgrimage groups came from Italy, France, the Republic of Ireland, Poland, Ukraine, Brazil, Spain, and the United States.

(Photo credit: gnuckx/CC BY 2.0

The Međugorje phenomenon is linked to the claims by six visionaries that Mary has been appearing to them in Međugorje, southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, since 1981 and sending them messages of peace, which is why she is called the Queen of Peace. They reported the first apparition on 25 June 1981.

The Holy See has established a special commission which has submitted its report on the Međugorje phenomenon to Pope Francis. In the meantime, a special papal envoy has been appointed for this parish.

Since the start of this phenomenon, 50 million pilgrims have visited Međugorje.