Pope authorizes pilgrims to visit Bosnian shrine

Vatican City – Pope Francis gave permission for pilgrims to visit a Bosnian sanctuary where young people claimed that the Virgin Mary had appeared to them, but the Vatican warned Sunday that the Church had not yet decided on the authenticity of the phenomenon, which attracted Millions of Catholics, believers and spectators went to the site.

Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said in a written statement that "the Holy Father has declared that it is possible to organize pilgrimages to Medjugorje".

The decision, which could further boost tourism, was also announced by the Vatican envoy to the local parish and by papal nuncio to Sarajevo.

The sanctuary is located 120 km south of Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia with a Muslim majority.

In 1981, during the papacy of the first pope of Eastern Europe, John Paul II, six young men claimed to have witnessed the apparitions of Mary.

Gisotti stressed that "we must be careful not to interpret these pilgrimages as an authentication of the events indicated, that still require a review by the Church ".

"Therefore, it must be avoided that such pilgrimages create confusion or ambiguity regarding the doctrinal aspect," said the Vatican spokesman.

Last year, one million people traveled to Medjugorje, where the faithful kneel in prayer in front of a statue of Mary.

The Vatican declaration also stressed that the priests who organize the pilgrimages should be adequately prepared so that those who go to the shrine to celebrate the Mbad avoid generating doctrinal confusion.

Since the apparitions were mentioned for the first time, millions of Catholics have visited the site. But despite years of studies, the Vatican He never declared these authentic visions, unlike the phenomenon of Mary's apparitions in Fatima, Portugal, and in Lourdes, France, two other extremely popular pilgrimage destinations.