The Holy See is closely following the events in the Bosnian southern town of Medjugorje, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the head of the Pontifical Council for New Evangelization, said Thursday, adding that this famous pilgrimage site contains many elements of the new evangelization, the most important being prayer and adoration.

“It is striking how pilgrims walk everywhere with the rosaries in their hands, praying. They walk the streets, climb hills, go everywhere. I believe this is indeed a positive indicator, which will be taken into account when assessing Medjugorje's special features,” Archbishop Fisichella said in an interview with the local Glasnik Mira paper.

The Archbishop visited Medjugorje at the beginning of August, participating in mass, prayer and adoration in the framework of the Youth Festival – Mladifest, on which the Holy See has allowed organized pilgrimages for the first time since the beginning of the Medjugorje phenomenon.

In May 2019, the Holy Father allowed the organization of a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, a town linked to the phenomenon which claims that six seers can receive messages from the Virgin Mary, whom they call the Queen of Peace.

The Holy See's special commission investigated this phenomenon and referred the case to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which forwarded it to the Holy Father for the final decision.

In the meantime, Archbishop Henryk Hoser of Poland has been appointed special papal visitor to oversee and care for this world-renowned parish.