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Medjugorje parish condemns vandalism, urges prayer and forgiveness
After an image of Our Lady was defaced and the outdoor altar of St. James Church set alight, the parish of Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina urges the faithful not to repay evil with evil.
Vatican News
The parish of Medjugorje has condemned acts of vandalism that damaged several of its places of prayer overnight and has invited the faithful to respond with “prayer, fasting, and forgiveness.”
“It is with great sadness that we received the news of the act of vandalism,” the Medjugorje Parish Office said in a statement on Tuesday.
It added that cleaning and repairs began immediately so the affected areas could once again be properly prepared for prayer.
The parish thanked everyone assisting with the work, saying their efforts were helping the shrine to remain “a place of encounter with God, a place of peace.”
The Blessed Virgin Mary is honored as Queen of Peace at the Shrine in Medjugorje.
Rather than responding with anger, the parish urged Catholics to pray for those responsible.
“We pray for the conversion of the hearts of those who committed this act,” it said, asking that the Lord may touch them with His grace and lead them on the path of goodness.
The parish also appealed for peace in every human heart. It encouraged the faithful “not to return evil for evil,” but to bear witness through our lives to love, forgiveness, and hope.
Vandalism and fire
Police in Bosnia and Herzegovina received the first report at about 4:30 a.m., after the face and hands of the image of Our Lady on Apparition Hill, or Podbrdo, were found covered in black paint and offensive messages were discovered nearby.
About half an hour later, officers were informed of a fire at the outdoor altar of St. James Church.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed a man pouring a liquid, believed to be petrol, over the altar before setting it alight. The fire was quickly extinguished.
A banner in Polish also named six people associated with the alleged apparitions first reported in 1981 and accused them of deception.
Police later arrested a man in the Ljubuški area on suspicion of involvement in the incidents. His identity, nationality, and other personal details have not been released.
Investigators are working to establish the motive and determine whether the suspect was connected with all the acts recorded in Medjugorje.
Shrine remains open
In the statement, the parish stressed that the shrine remains open to all pilgrims and that its regular prayer program is continuing. The affected areas are being cleaned and restored as quickly as possible.
In September 2024, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the approval of Pope Francis, issued a nihil obstat regarding the spiritual experience connected with Medjugorje.
The decision recognized the positive spiritual fruits associated with the shrine and permitted public devotion, without making a declaration on the supernatural character of the reported apparitions.
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