Medjugorje Parish Condemns Vandalism, Calls for Prayer and Forgiveness

MEDJUGORJE, Bosnia and Herzegovina, July 29, 2026: The parish of Medjugorje has condemned acts of vandalism that damaged prayer sites, including the defacement of an image of Our Lady and the setting alight of the outdoor altar of St James Church, urging the faithful to respond with prayer, fasting and forgiveness rather than anger.

“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.

The incidents occurred overnight, prompting immediate cleaning and restoration work at the affected sites. The parish expressed gratitude to those involved in repairing the damage, saying their efforts would help the shrine remain “a place of encounter with God, a place of peace.”

The Shrine of Medjugorje is a major pilgrimage destination where the Blessed Virgin Mary is venerated as the Queen of Peace.

Calling on the faithful not to respond to the acts with retaliation, the parish urged them to pray for those responsible.

“We pray for the conversion of the hearts of those who committed this act,” the statement said, asking God to touch them with grace and lead them on the path of goodness.

The parish also appealed for peace in every human heart and encouraged Catholics “not to return evil for evil,” but instead to witness to love, forgiveness and hope through their lives.

According to reports, police in Bosnia and Herzegovina received the first report at around 4:30 a.m., after the face and hands of the image of Our Lady on Apparition Hill, also known as Podbrdo, were found covered in black paint. Offensive messages were also reportedly discovered nearby.

Around 30 minutes later, authorities were alerted to 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 extinguished quickly.

A banner written in Polish reportedly referred to 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. Authorities have not released his identity, nationality or other personal details.

Investigations are continuing to establish the motive behind the acts and determine whether the suspect was connected to all the incidents reported in Medjugorje.

Despite the vandalism, the parish said the shrine remains open to pilgrims and that its regular programme of prayer continues unchanged. Restoration work at the affected locations is being carried out 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 concerning the spiritual experience associated with Medjugorje. The decision recognised the positive spiritual fruits associated with the shrine and authorised public devotion, without making a declaration on the supernatural character of the reported apparitions.

Courtesy: Vatican News