Questions About Medjugorje

Millions of people from around the world feel drawn to Medjugorje — sometimes without fully understanding why. They come from every nation and every walk of life, carrying hopes, wounds, prayers, and questions. Something quiet yet persistent seems to call them, drawing them toward a place where many have encountered peace, healing, and a renewed faith.

Pope St. John Paul II once referred to Medjugorje as “the spiritual heart of the world.” Whether spoken simply or profoundly, those words capture what countless pilgrims have discovered — that something life-giving flows from this place. Like a heart that sends life through the body, Medjugorje has become, for many, a source of grace, renewal, and spiritual awakening.

Many who arrive burdened or searching leave with a deep peace and a desire to begin again, strengthened through prayer, confession, and the Eucharist. Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, the Vatican’s Apostolic Visitor to Medjugorje, has described it simply as “a place of grace, where you meet the Lord and the Lord meets you.” That is the true reason so many are drawn there — not for spectacle, but for encounter. An encounter with God through the sacramental life of the Church. And once a person has experienced that kind of grace, it becomes clear why so many feel called to go — and why so many return home changed.

When pilgrims arrive in Medjugorje, something very different from an ordinary trip begins to unfold. You unpack your bags — and you stay. There is no rushing from place to place, no itinerary of landmarks to check off a list. Instead, you are drawn into the heart of what defines Medjugorje: the sacramental life of the Church. Each day centers on prayer, Mass, Eucharistic adoration, confession, and quiet moments on the hills where faith begins to take root and deepen.

Along the way, something unexpected happens. Community forms quickly. Strangers become companions through shared prayer, shared laughter, and meals taken together day after day. Pilgrims who arrive from different places and backgrounds soon find themselves walking the same path, carrying one another’s intentions, and discovering that the journey is not meant to be made alone.

Perhaps the most remarkable difference becomes clear at the end. While many pilgrimage sites are visited once, very few places in the world see pilgrims return again and again at the scale witnessed in Medjugorje. It is not uncommon to hear pilgrims say, even before they leave, that they are already thinking about when they will return. Many describe a deep sense of belonging there — as if, in some quiet way, they have come home.

A pilgrimage, at its best, is not measured by the sites you visit but by the person you become along the way. In Medjugorje, the rhythm of each day — prayer, silence, sacrament, community — creates the conditions for that kind of interior change. And that is something no ordinary trip can offer.

We are blessed to have parishes in our own communities, and many people do live their faith deeply and faithfully at home. Yet many others have allowed the flame of faith in their hearts to grow dim. In the messages attributed to Our Lady, there are repeated calls to awaken from spiritual sleep and to rekindle a living faith — to return to prayer, to rediscover God, and to allow that flame to burn brightly once again.

Places like Medjugorje serve as moments of awakening. Removed from daily distractions and immersed in prayer, many pilgrims rediscover the beauty of the spiritual life — the peace of confession, the power of the Eucharist, and the joy of praying again with intention. It is not that grace is unavailable at home, but that sometimes we need to step away in order to see more clearly what has always been there.

The Church has always encouraged pilgrimage as a way of rekindling what may have grown quiet. The Magi had everything they needed at home — wisdom, comfort, learning — yet they followed a star into the unknown, and what they encountered changed the course of their lives. They could not go home the same way.

Many who travel to Medjugorje return home not seeking something new, but loving more deeply what they already have — their parish, their sacraments, and their daily walk with God. The pilgrimage does not replace the life of faith at home. It renews it.

Over the past four decades, more than 50 million pilgrims from every corner of the world have traveled to Medjugorje, and the fruits of those pilgrimages have been both visible and profound. Countless people have returned to confession after years away, rediscovered the beauty of prayer, and developed a deep love for the Eucharist. Many arrive burdened or searching, yet leave with a renewed sense of peace and a desire to live their faith more intentionally.

One of the most remarkable fruits has been the extraordinary number of vocations to the priesthood and religious life connected to Medjugorje. Thousands of priests and religious throughout the world have testified that their call was born or strengthened there. In quiet moments of prayer and Eucharistic adoration, many encountered God in a way that changed the direction of their lives, offering themselves in service to the Church. In this way, God continues to raise up new laborers for His vineyard, strengthening His Church for generations to come.

Yet perhaps the greatest fruit is not found in numbers, but in transformed lives. Families reconciled, marriages healed, hearts freed from burdens long carried, and faith rekindled in those who once felt lost — these are the quiet miracles most often reported. Again and again, pilgrims return home with a renewed desire to live their faith more fully, to pray more faithfully, and to remain close to the sacraments.

It was these enduring fruits — prayer, conversion, reconciliation, and renewed devotion — that the Vatican recognized when it granted Medjugorje the designation Nihil Obstat in September 2024. The spiritual fruits are not incidental to the story of Medjugorje. They are the story. And they continue to draw millions of pilgrims who return home changed.

Since the early 1990s, I have had the privilege of leading pilgrimages to Medjugorje and accompanying thousands of pilgrims on this journey of faith. Over those years, I have walked in the midst of what can only be described as God at work — quietly, powerfully, and often unexpectedly. I have witnessed lives transformed, hearts softened, and faith rekindled in ways that words alone cannot fully capture.

I have seen physical healings and profound spiritual healings — people freed from burdens they carried for years, families reconciled, and souls returning to confession after decades away. I have watched individuals arrive reluctantly, sometimes brought by family members and resistant to being there, only to leave filled with peace, gratitude, and joy for what they had experienced. Again and again, I have seen the grace of God unfold through the ordinary yet powerful means of the Church — the Eucharist, confession, prayer, and community.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful witnesses has been seeing the universal Church alive in one place. Pilgrims from nations across the world praying side by side, united in faith, reveal the beauty and splendor of the Catholic Church as the living Body of Christ. After decades of walking this path with pilgrims, I can say with confidence that what unfolds in Medjugorje is not merely an event or an emotional experience — it is an encounter with God that changes lives and continues to bear fruit long after pilgrims return home.

Private revelation has always had a place in the life of the Church, but it serves a very different purpose than Sacred Scripture and Tradition. The public revelation given through Jesus Christ is complete and contains everything necessary for salvation. Private revelations, even when approved by the Church, do not add anything new to the faith. Instead, they serve as reminders — calls to live the Gospel more faithfully in a particular time or place.

Because of this, Catholics are not required to believe in any private revelation, even those that have been approved by the Church. Faith in Jesus Christ, participation in the sacraments, and fidelity to the teachings of the Church are what define the life of a Catholic. Private revelations are offered as helps, not obligations — gifts that may encourage prayer, conversion, and renewal for those who feel drawn to them.

Yet while private revelation is not required, authentic private revelation tells us what God is asking of us for our time. Throughout history, God has used private revelations to awaken hearts during particular moments when faith has grown weak or distracted. The revelations of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque arose when the heresy of Jansenism cast a shadow over God’s love — and the devotion restored confidence in His mercy. The revelations to St. Faustina Kowalska called our own era to trust in Divine Mercy at a time when the world desperately needed that reminder. Places such as Lourdes and Fatima have become powerful calls to prayer and repentance, helping countless people rediscover the sacraments. In each case, the revelation did not introduce something new — it reminded God’s people of what they had always been called to live.

When the Church carefully examines such events, her goal is always the same: to protect the faithful and to discern whether what is being claimed truly leads people closer to Christ. And when she says that a private revelation is worthy of belief, we would do well to listen. Not because we are compelled, but because if God is speaking to His people for their own time, to close ourselves to that grace would be a loss.

Ultimately, private revelation is never about curiosity or spectacle — it is about conversion. When authentic, its purpose is simple: to lead people back to the heart of the Gospel, to deepen their love for God, and to renew their trust in His presence in their daily lives.

The Church evaluates reported apparitions with great care, patience, and caution. She does not rush to judgment, because her task is not only to investigate unusual claims but to protect the faithful and discern whether a phenomenon truly leads people closer to Christ. Over time, the Church examines the content of the messages, the credibility of the witnesses, the spiritual fruits that follow, and whether everything remains in harmony with Catholic faith and morals. This careful and patient approach builds credibility and reflects the wisdom of centuries of discernment.

In May 2024, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued updated norms titled Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena, which took effect on May 19, 2024. Under these norms, the Church may reach one of six possible conclusions when evaluating a reported apparition or supernatural phenomenon:

1. Nihil Obstat (Nothing stands in the way) — Positive signs are present, and devotion may continue because clear spiritual fruits are evident. This does not declare the phenomenon supernatural but allows pastoral support and devotional activity.
2. Prae oculis habeatur (Keep under observation) — Some positive elements are present, but certain concerns remain. Continued monitoring is recommended while allowing devotion with appropriate caution.
3. Curatur (Needs pastoral care) — The situation requires active pastoral guidance because confusion or problematic elements may be present. Church leaders intervene to ensure that devotion remains properly directed.
4. Sub mandato (Under mandate) — The phenomenon requires direct oversight by Church authorities. Specific measures are put in place to guide or regulate activity connected to the phenomenon.
5. Prohibetur et obstruatur (Prohibited and restrained) — Serious concerns exist, and public devotion or promotion must be restricted to protect the faithful from potential harm or confusion.
6. Declaratio de non supernaturalitate (Declaration of non-supernaturality) — The Church determines that the phenomenon is not supernatural in origin and clearly states that it should not be considered authentic.

These categories allow the Church to respond with wisdom and flexibility rather than rushing to a definitive declaration. They recognize that discernment unfolds over time and that spiritual fruits must be observed carefully and patiently.

The new norms also clarify the roles of Church authorities in this process. Local bishops typically begin the investigation and gather evidence. Their findings are then sent to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which reviews the material, offers guidance, and approves the appropriate category of judgment. Under the 2024 norms, the Dicastery itself no longer declares a phenomenon to be supernatural in origin. That authority now belongs exclusively to the Holy Father, who alone may make a definitive declaration that an apparition or private revelation is truly supernatural.

This careful and structured process reflects the Church at her best — patient, discerning, and attentive over time. She is not looking for spectacle, but for truth. Authentic private revelations bear lasting fruits: deeper prayer, sincere conversion, renewed love for the Eucharist, and faithful participation in the life of the Church. In this way, the Church’s discernment becomes not merely an investigation, but a witness to her wisdom, patience, and commitment to guiding the faithful safely toward Christ.

Yes. On September 19, 2024, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued an official ruling regarding Medjugorje in a document titled “The Queen of Peace” (La Regina della Pace): Note about the Spiritual Experience Connected with Medjugorje. In that document, Medjugorje was granted the classification Nihil Obstat, meaning “nothing stands in the way.” This designation recognizes the presence of positive spiritual fruits and permits devotional life and pilgrimages to continue under the guidance of the Church. Under the new Vatican norms issued in 2024, Nihil Obstat represents the highest level of recognition that the Dicastery itself can assign to a place associated with reported apparitions.

The document further affirms that the faithful may continue to embrace the spiritual life associated with Medjugorje — especially prayer, conversion, reconciliation, and participation in the sacraments.

In this context, the phrase refers to the lived pattern of prayer, repentance, and sacramental devotion that has taken root among pilgrims, particularly through devotion to Mary under the title Queen of Peace.

At the same time, this designation does not declare the reported apparitions to be supernatural, nor does it require belief in them. Under the 2024 norms, a definitive declaration that an apparition is supernatural in origin can be made only by the Holy Father. The Dicastery evaluates the evidence and assigns classifications such as Nihil Obstat, but the authority to formally declare an apparition supernatural belongs exclusively to the Pope. Until such a declaration is made, the Church continues to observe the long-term fruits while providing pastoral care and guidance to the faithful.

The Church does not rush to declare an apparition supernatural — especially when the events themselves are still unfolding. In the case of Medjugorje, the reported apparitions have not yet concluded. Three of the visionaries continue to report daily apparitions, and we do not know how long that will continue. The other three visionaries report receiving one annual apparition each year, which Our Lady told them would continue for the rest of their lives. This means that there are likely many more years of apparitions and messages ahead. There are also references to future events — often called “secrets” — that, according to the visionaries, have not yet been revealed. For this reason, the full body of evidence connected to Medjugorje is still developing.

The Church approaches discernment with careful patience and sound reasoning. Just as a case cannot be fully presented before all the evidence has been gathered, the Church likewise seeks to examine the complete record before making a definitive judgment. The story is still being written.

At the same time, the Nihil Obstat granted on September 19, 2024, marks an extremely positive and historic moment. It represents the highest level of recognition the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith can presently assign while the events continue. This judgment allows pilgrims to come, pray, and participate in the sacramental life of the Church there with confidence, while the Church continues her careful discernment.

Because some of the visionaries are expected to continue receiving annual apparitions throughout their lifetimes, it is widely expected that a definitive declaration regarding supernatural origin would not ordinarily be made until the events have concluded and all testimony has been completed. Until that time, the Church remains attentive and prudent — encouraging what is good, guiding the faithful wisely, and allowing history itself to complete the testimony that is still being written.

There is understandable confusion among many people when they consider Medjugorje. They see the passage of many years, the countless pilgrims who have traveled there, and the many reports of spiritual fruits — yet they also hear that the Church has not formally declared the apparitions to be supernatural. For some, this raises questions or even concern. But in the life of the Church, the absence of a final declaration is not a sign of disapproval — it is a sign of careful discernment.

Throughout history, the Church has always taken time when evaluating reported apparitions. Authentic spiritual phenomena must be studied patiently, observed over years, and tested by the endurance of their fruits. The Church waits not because she doubts, but because she discerns. Delay should not be interpreted as rejection or suspicion, but as wisdom exercised for the protection of the faithful and the integrity of the faith.

History bears this out. The average interval between the beginning of a reported apparition and formal Church approval is roughly 65 years. Medjugorje, at approximately 44 years, is well below that average. And some of the Church’s most beloved apparition sites waited far longer: Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin was approved after 151 years. Our Lady of Šiluva in Lithuania waited 167 years. Our Lady of Laus in France — now fully approved and deeply venerated — waited 344 years. The length of time before formal approval has never, in the history of the Church, been an argument against the authenticity of an apparition.

In the case of Medjugorje, especially because the reported apparitions are ongoing, the Church has already taken one of the most positive steps she can presently take — granting the designation Nihil Obstat, the highest level of recognition currently assignable by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Far from signaling disapproval, this step reflects confidence that genuine spiritual good is taking place, even as discernment continues.

In recent decades, the Holy See has taken a series of significant steps regarding Medjugorje. These actions reflect ongoing study, pastoral care, and careful discernment. Taken together, they reveal a pattern of growing engagement with the spiritual life unfolding in Medjugorje.

The Apostolic Visitor to Medjugorje is a representative of the Holy Father entrusted with overseeing the pastoral care of pilgrims who come from around the world. This role focuses not on investigating the apparitions themselves, but on ensuring that the spiritual life of the parish and the needs of pilgrims are guided in harmony with the teachings of the Church. The Apostolic Visitor works to strengthen the sacramental life, support clergy, and promote sound pastoral practices so that pilgrims encounter Christ through prayer, confession, the Eucharist, and devotion lived within the life of the Church.

The appointment of an Apostolic Visitor signifies something very important: the Holy See recognizes that Medjugorje has become a place of global pilgrimage requiring careful pastoral attention. Because millions of pilgrims have traveled there from every continent, the Church has taken steps to ensure that their spiritual needs are properly cared for.

In 2018, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Henryk Hoser as the first Apostolic Visitor to Medjugorje, establishing a permanent Vatican presence dedicated to the pastoral care of pilgrims. Following his death in August 2021, Archbishop Aldo Cavalli was appointed in November 2021 to continue this mission. The presence of an Apostolic Visitor reflects the Church’s desire to accompany the faithful, offering guidance and stability while discernment continues.

Medjugorje stands in a highly distinctive position among pilgrimage sites. While many important Catholic shrines operate under the care of local bishops, the assignment of a permanent Apostolic Visitor directly appointed by the Holy See reflects an exceptional level of pastoral attention. His presence reminds pilgrims that what unfolds in Medjugorje is not isolated from the wider Church, but connected to the universal mission of the Church throughout the world.

The phrase “with ecclesiastical approval” indicates that Church authorities have granted permission for the messages to be published for devotional use. In Catholic practice, this means that the text has been reviewed and found to contain nothing contrary to faith or morals. Such approval allows the faithful to read the messages with confidence that they are consistent with the teachings of the Church.

Following the Vatican’s Nihil Obstat decision of September 19, 2024, the publication of the monthly Medjugorje messages began to include this phrase to reflect that permission. During the presentation of this decision, it was stated that the faithful may pray in Medjugorje and that the messages can be read without danger. This phrase does not indicate that Church authorities edit or alter the content of the messages, but rather that permission has been granted for their publication after review for doctrinal soundness.

At the same time, ecclesiastical approval does not mean that the Church has made a definitive declaration about the supernatural character of the apparitions. Even approved private revelations are not required beliefs for the faithful. Rather, this approval assures pilgrims and readers that the messages may be read prudently and used as aids to prayer, while the Church continues to exercise careful discernment.

You can see this phrase reflected in the messages published on the official website of the Parish of Medjugorje, where each monthly message now concludes with the notation “(With Ecclesiastical approval).”

From time to time, questions have been raised about whether certain messages attributed to the Blessed Mother at Medjugorje might be contrary to the teachings of the Church. In many cases, these concerns arise from isolated quotations, early translations, partial summaries, or even mistranslations and misunderstandings of what was actually said. As with any body of reported private revelation spanning many years and languages, careful interpretation and accurate translation are essential to ensure that the original meaning is faithfully preserved and properly understood.

One frequently cited example involves a message in which Our Lady is reported to have said that all religions are equal before her Son. This phrase has been taken out of context and used to suggest a kind of religious indifferentism. However, the context matters deeply. In the former Yugoslavia, the words for “religion” and “ethnicity” were used almost interchangeably — to say “I am Catholic” meant “I am Croatian,” and to say “I am Orthodox” meant “I am Serbian.” The message, understood in that cultural and linguistic context, affirms that all peoples are equal before God — a truth fully consistent with Catholic teaching. As St. Thomas Aquinas observed, everything received is received according to the manner of the recipient. Visionaries, like all human beings, communicate what they experience through their own language, vocabulary, and cultural framework.

When the messages are read in their complete form and within their broader context, they consistently affirm truths that are fully aligned with Catholic teaching: the call to prayer, conversion, repentance, fasting, confession, Eucharistic devotion, and fidelity to the Church. Far from introducing new or unfamiliar doctrines, the messages repeatedly echo themes that have always been at the heart of the Gospel and the life of the Church. Read as a whole, they form a consistent call to holiness, prayer, and deeper union with God.

The Church has approached Medjugorje with prudence and careful discernment over many years. In granting a Nihil Obstat — the highest form of positive pastoral judgment currently given by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith — Church authorities affirmed that the faithful may approach devotion associated with Medjugorje with confidence. During the presentation of this decision, it was clearly stated that the messages can be read without danger. Such careful discernment reflects the Church’s role as a wise guardian of truth and a faithful protector of the integrity of the faith.

For these reasons, it can be stated with confidence that none of the messages associated with Medjugorje contain teachings contrary to the faith of the Church.

Repeated themes in the messages — such as prayer, conversion, fasting, peace, and trust in God — may lead some to wonder whether repetition makes them less meaningful. In reality, repetition has long been a part of how God teaches His people, especially when the message is essential to spiritual life.

Throughout Sacred Scripture, God’s call to repentance, faith, and fidelity was repeated through the prophets and by Jesus Himself. The Church’s own prayer life reflects this pattern, especially in the rosary, where repeated prayers lead not to monotony but to deeper reflection and transformation of the heart.

Repetition is also the language of a loving mother. Every mother repeats what matters most to her children — because their well-being depends on hearing those truths again and again. If Our Lady has to repeat herself in Medjugorje, the question is not why the messages are repetitive, but why we have not yet listened. As our spiritual Mother, the Blessed Mother speaks to us with the same patience and love, reminding us of what leads us back to God.

Rather than weakening the message, repetition reveals its importance. It reflects Heaven’s patience and mercy — a steady call to conversion and a loving reminder of the path that leads to peace, holiness, and deeper union with God.

Reports of apparitions occurring regularly over many years can raise questions for some people because many are more familiar with Marian apparitions that occurred only occasionally or over shorter periods of time. When apparitions appear to follow a pattern or continue over many years, it can lead some to wonder whether such regularity or duration is consistent with what has happened in the past. These questions often arise from comparing present reports with only a few well-known historical examples.

However, history shows that regular or patterned apparitions are not without precedent. At Fatima in 1917, the Blessed Mother appeared once each month on the thirteenth day, from May through October — a deliberate, recurring pattern over six months. At Lourdes, Our Lady told Bernadette, “Will you do me the grace of coming here for fifteen days?” — an explicit appointment. At Guadalupe, she told Juan Diego to return to the same place, and when he tried to avoid her by taking a different route, she came down the hillside to meet him. The Blessed Mother, it seems, is entirely capable of making appointments.

There are also examples of apparitions that extended over very long periods. At Our Lady of Laus in France — an apparition formally approved by the Church — the Blessed Mother appeared to the visionary Benoîte Rencurel from 1664 until 1718, a period of approximately 54 years. At Fatima itself, while the public apparitions lasted one year, Our Lady continued to appear to Sr. Lucia for another 88 years until her death. The approved apparitions at San Nicolás in Argentina continued for over 35 years.

Ultimately, God is not limited to repeating the same pattern in every age. While historical examples help us understand what has happened before, the duration or frequency of apparitions alone does not determine their authenticity. What matters most is whether the messages lead people to prayer, conversion, and deeper faith — reflecting God’s patient care and His desire to guide His people over time.

Experiencing an apparition does not determine a person’s vocation. The Church has never taught that those who receive private revelations are expected to enter religious life. Each person must still discern his or her calling before God, and that calling may lead to priesthood, religious life, marriage, or dedicated lay service.

Marriage and family life are not lesser paths to holiness, but sacred vocations established by God. The sacrament of marriage calls spouses to love, sacrifice, and holiness within daily life, and the Church teaches that all the faithful — whether married, single, or religious — are called to holiness. Choosing marriage and raising a family is therefore fully consistent with a life of faith and devotion.

History confirms this. Some visionaries, such as St. Bernadette Soubirous, entered religious life after their apparitions. Others chose marriage and family life, such as Marie Claire Mukangango, one of the approved visionaries of Our Lady of Kibeho. Still others remained laypersons throughout their lives, such as Benoîte Rencurel, visionary of Our Lady of Laus. At La Salette, the two visionaries lived difficult and sometimes chaotic lives after the apparitions, yet the Bishop of Grenoble wisely observed that the visionaries “can move away, become dispersed in the world, even unfaithful to the great grace received — but the apparition will not thereby be shaken, for it is certain, and nothing coming after can act against it.” The authenticity of an apparition has never been measured by the subsequent life path of the visionary.

Ultimately, vocation is a personal call from God, not a test of credibility. The fact that the Medjugorje visionaries chose marriage and family life reflects the Church’s broader teaching that holiness is lived in many ways. What matters most is not the state of life chosen, but faithfulness to God within that calling.

Wherever large numbers of pilgrims gather, practical needs naturally arise. Pilgrims require places to stay, meals to eat, and access to transportation and basic services. For this reason, hotels, restaurants, and shops commonly develop around pilgrimage destinations. This pattern can be seen at well-known sites such as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Sanctuary of Fátima, where commercial services developed in response to the needs of pilgrims rather than as the cause of their devotion.

In the case of Medjugorje, the village was originally an agrarian community where families depended on farming, especially tobacco and grapes. As increasing numbers of pilgrims arrived, it became difficult for many families to maintain traditional agricultural work while also serving visitors. Over time, hospitality services developed to meet the needs of pilgrims who required lodging and meals — reflecting changing circumstances rather than an attempt to commercialize a spiritual experience.

This kind of criticism is not new. Even in the time of St. Bernadette, people spoke critically of her family’s improved circumstances after the apparitions at Lourdes. Similar accusations were made against the families of the Fatima visionaries. In every generation, those who are skeptical of an apparition have pointed to material change in the surrounding community as evidence of inauthenticity — yet the Church has consistently held that what happens around an apparition site does not negate the spiritual reality of the events themselves.

At the same time, financial activity alone does not determine the spiritual value of a place. The Church has always distinguished between legitimate services that support pilgrims and actions that exploit religious devotion. Authentic pilgrimage sites are judged not by the presence of commerce, but by their spiritual fruits — prayer, conversion, reconciliation, and renewed faith. These fruits have been present in Medjugorje continuously for over four decades, and they are ultimately what led the Church to grant its most positive pastoral designation.