Key facts
- Bosnian authorities are investigating desecration and fire damage at the Medjugorje pilgrimage site.
- A Virgin Mary statue was defaced with black paint and an inscription.
- A banner questioning the authenticity of alleged visions was found near the shrine.
- Medjugorje is a popular destination for Catholic pilgrims.
- The Vatican has approved pilgrimages to Medjugorje, citing positive spiritual fruits.
Authorities in Bosnia are investigating the desecration of a Virgin Mary statue and fire damage that occurred overnight at a shrine in Medjugorje, a village in southern Bosnia that is a popular destination for Roman Catholic pilgrims. Pictures from the site showed the statue's face and hands painted black, with an inscription on the pedestal reading "Devil in a skirt." Near the shrine, a banner was found displayed on a fence with the names of individuals who claim to have seen visions of the Virgin Mary, accompanied by a message in Polish stating, "They are fraudsters, I have proof." In 1981, six children and teenagers reported seeing visions of the Madonna on a hill in Medjugorje. Some of these individuals have claimed the visions have occurred regularly since then, with Mary sending them messages. The Vatican's doctrine office has not declared the reported apparitions as authentic or of supernatural origin, noting contradictions in messages received by the alleged visionaries over the years. However, in line with new Vatican criteria, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith ruled that the positive "spiritual fruits" from the Medjugorje experience justified allowing the faithful to organize pilgrimages and permit public acts of devotion. This decision overruled years of doubts about the veracity of the alleged apparitions by regional bishops and Vatican experts, and disregarded concerns about the economic interests that have made Medjugorje a significant destination for religious tourism.