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Doctrine chief: New norms won't deter popular devotion

Discernment process for Marian apparitions simplified for bishops

Published: June 6, 2024   

By Justin McLellan
Catholic News Service

Pope Francis prays the rosary in the Chapel of the Apparitions at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima in Fátima, Portugal, Aug. 5, 2023. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Pope Francis prays the rosary in the Chapel of the Apparitions at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima in Fátima, Portugal, Aug. 5, 2023. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

The Vatican's new norms for discerning alleged supernatural phenomena restrict the Catholic Church and bishops from definitively declaring the authenticity of purportedly divine or supernatural events, but it won't curb the potential for another great popular devotion such as Our Lady of Fátima or Guadalupe, the head of the Vatican's doctrinal office said.

If an alleged supernatural phenomenon occurs, such as a Marian apparition or a mystical vision, and it develops a healthy piety and devotion associated with it, then it does not need a formal declaration of approval by the bishop or the Vatican to flourish, said Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Speaking May 17 at a press conference to present a document detailing guidelines and procedures for discerning alleged supernatural phenomena, Cardinal Fernández said that in most cases, such as at Fátima in Portugal, the devotion surrounding such phenomena "grows well and normally."

Most sanctuaries, he said, originated due to phenomena that could be easily handled, did not present any problems and bore positive fruits in the faith community.

"There was never a declaration by the bishop, from the dicastery, from anyone, and they grew normally as popular devotion without any problems," the cardinal said. "It's not that a good phenomenon needs a declaration of supernaturality so that it may grow."

While popes have visited Fátima and developed a devotion to the Virgin Mary, for example, the Vatican never issued a formal declaration approving the supernatural nature of the events at Fátima. The local bishop issued a declaration declaring the events "worthy of belief" in 1930.

The Vatican guidelines, published by the dicastery May 17, stated that there will no longer be declarations affirming the supernatural nature of phenomena. Declarations now "are replaced either by a 'nihil obstat'" — a judgment meaning "no objection" that finds no problematic elements with a reported phenomenon — "or by another determination that is suited to the specific situation."

The change in approach is meant to "prevent any further delays" in reaching conclusions about cases involving alleged supernatural phenomena, Cardinal Fernández wrote in his presentation of the document, noting that only six such cases have been officially resolved since 1950.

"Since it is not easy to arrive at the moral certainty to declare supernaturality, the various existing proceedings lasted a long time, many years, but in the meantime, the phenomenon grew," the cardinal said at the press conference. "Then some bishops close to the place (of the phenomenon) said, 'But how can the dicastery do nothing with all this mess?'"

The new norms, Cardinal Fernández said, should make it more feasible to reach a conclusion more quickly for cases that have been dragging on for years — such as regarding the alleged apparitions at Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The case of the alleged apparitions at Medjugorje has "not concluded yet, but with these norms we think that it will become easier to move forward and reach a conclusion," he said.

The Medjugorje apparitions involved six teenagers who claimed Mary appeared to them in 1981, though several other seers have since claimed to see visions and receive messages from Mary at the site of the apparitions. Pope Francis has said the original visions are worth further study but has expressed skepticism about the ongoing events. In 2019 he authorized organized pilgrimages to Medjugorje.

The norms also reaffirm the need for bishops to intervene in cases in which phenomena may be used for the personal benefit of a person or group, to earn money, power, fame or commit abuse.

Cardinal Fernández highlighted the "particular moral gravity of using alleged supernatural experiences or accepted mystical elements as a means or pretext to exercise control over people or commit abuses."

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