Investigation into Vandalism of Virgin Mary Statue in Bosnia

Authorities in Bosnia are investigating the vandalism of a Virgin Mary statue and damage to a shrine caused by a fire in a village in southern Bosnia. This location is a popular site for Catholic pilgrims.

Two years ago, the Vatican permitted Catholics to make pilgrimages to Medjugorje, a place where children reported sightings of the Virgin Mary. This approval recognized the devotion at one of the Catholic Church’s most debated locations in recent years.

Local media showed images of the statue with its face and hands painted black. An English inscription on the pedestal read, “Devil in a skirt.”

In 1981, six children and adolescents claimed to have seen the Virgin on a hill in Medjugorje, located in the southern Bosnia wine region. Some of these original “visionaries” continue to claim regular visions, stating that Mary sends them messages frequently.

Nearby, there was a banner naming the visionaries. It featured a message in Polish saying, “They are frauds, I have proof.”

The Vatican’s doctrinal office has not confirmed that Medjugorje’s alleged apparitions are genuine or of a supernatural source. It noted issues with contradictions that the visionaries received over the years in messages.

Despite this, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith determined that the positive “spiritual fruits” from the Medjugorje experience justified allowing pilgrims to visit and engage in public devotional activities. The 2024 decision overturned previous skepticism by local bishops and Vatican experts about the authenticity of the sightings and concerns over economic interests turning Medjugorje into a thriving religious tourism destination.