New Papal Representative Appointed for Medjugorje

A dark blue water wave with small bubbles against a white background — Daniel Sinoca / Unsplash

Medjugorje has received a new papal special representative. Leo XIV. appointed Bishop Francesco Cavina as the Apostolic Visitor for the parish near Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the Vatican announced on Saturday.

Bishop Aldo Cavalli, the previous Visitor, completed his 80th year on October 18 and is retiring. He had held the position since 2021 and previously served as a Vatican diplomat from 1996 to 2011 before becoming Bishop of Carpi in central Italy in 2012. In 2019, he requested to be relieved of his duties following unfounded corruption allegations, according to prosecutors. He has since been an emeritus bishop.

Medjugorje is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites, known since 1981 for reports of Marian apparitions. Six individuals reportedly experienced these visions thousands of times. The site attracts approximately two million visitors annually from around the world, making it one of the most visited Marian centers globally.

The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement in 2024, positively evaluating the spiritual value of the devotion to Mary as the "Queen of Peace" in Medjugorje, without passing judgment on the supernatural nature of the apparitions. Despite internal controversies surrounding the phenomenon, the number of pilgrims continues to grow into the millions.

The return journey from a pilgrimage ended tragically for twelve Polish individuals when their bus veered off the road and overturned in a ditch. The Polish bishops expressed their sorrow over the incident. Medjugorje has been a site of hope and faith since the first Marian apparition 45 years ago, yet it remains a subject of ongoing debate regarding its authenticity and significance.