Vatican revamps norms to evaluate visions of Mary as it adapts to Internet age

ope Francis in his popemobile leaves at the end of a Mass where he canonized shepherd children Jacinta and Francisco Marto at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, Saturday, Friday, May 13, 2017, in Fatima, Portugal.

The Vatican issued new guidelines on Friday recommending a cautious approach to supposed supernatural events such as weeping Madonnas and blood-dripping crucifixes, phenomena that have stirred the Catholic faithful for centuries. Pope Francis has expressed skepticism about such occurrences, noting last year on Italian RAI TV that Virgin Mary apparitions are "not always real" and that he prefers to see her as "pointing to Jesus" rather than drawing attention to herself.

Reports of supernatural incidents, including "stigmata" or the appearance of Jesus' crucifixion wounds on saintly individuals, have often led to the creation of shrines and pilgrimages. In a document replacing the 1978 rules, the Vatican's doctrinal office (DDF) advised that such incidents should be assessed with great caution, as they may be fraudulent and exploited for financial gain or to create personal cults.

Photo shows site where the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared in an apparition in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina June 25, 2020

The DDF noted that discernment of these phenomena must address potential problems such as wrongdoing, manipulation, threats to Church unity, undue financial gain, and serious doctrinal errors that could cause scandals and undermine the Church's credibility. Bishops are generally advised to issue a "nihil obstat," a go-ahead for worship that leaves open the issue of formal Vatican recognition of the phenomenon as "supernatural." Such recognition, however, is extremely rare.

The document acknowledged that many pilgrimage sites are linked to purported supernatural events not authenticated by the Vatican, but stated that this does not pose serious problems for the faith. One example, not mentioned in the document but relevant, is the popular shrine of Medjugorje in Bosnia, where repeated apparitions of the Virgin Mary have been reported since 1981.

A Virgin Mary statue is seen in Medjugorje, south of Sarajevo, December 24, 2014. Millions of pilgrims from all over the world have visited the small Bosnian town after six Bosnian youngsters claimed that the Holy Mary appeared to them there 33 years ago.

The DDF outlined that bishops can issue one of six decisions, including rejecting an event as supernatural or taking steps to ban or limit worship related to controversial or clearly fake phenomena. Bishops are required to seek Vatican approval before publishing their verdicts. In exceptional cases, the pope or the DDF itself can intervene directly, bypassing local Church authorities.

The proliferation of supposed religious phenomena, some obviously fake, contributed to the split in Christianity and the emergence of Protestantism in Europe in the 16th century.

A woman touches a crucifix at the site where the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared in an apparition in Medjugorje, south of Sarajevo, December 24, 2014. Millions of pilgrims from all over the world have visited the small Bosnian town after six Bosnian youngsters claimed that the Holy Mary appeared to them there 33 years ago.