A powerful legacy of Pope Francis

Various experts have, quite rightly, highlighted his efforts to ensure every human person feels welcome in the Church, his prioritization of the poorest and most marginalized people, his reminders to us that God is rich in mercy, and his constant pleas for peace.

I'd like to suggest, however, that another monumental part of his legacy has been largely absent from the commentary. It was during Pope Francis' pontificate that the Church finally granted its 'Nihil Obstat' for the ‘spiritual proposal’ made in Medjugorje.

For the millions of people whose lives have already been changed through visiting Medjugorje since 1981 (myself included) this was a cause of great joy and encouragement, whilst many who preferred to wait for clearer guidance from the Church before making a pilgrimage there have now been given their 'green light'. It is expected that the already huge number of pilgrims visiting this small village in Bosnia-Herzegovina will now grow even greater.

The truly remarkable document expressing the Nihil Obstat was approved by Pope Francis in August 2024 and published by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on 19 September 2024. It is a Note About the Spiritual Experience Connected with Medjugorje titled ‘The Queen of Peace' – the name Our Blessed Mother gave herself from the beginning of these apparitions, according to the visionaries – and much of it focuses on the multitude of good fruits born in Medjugorje. It states that:

‘The uniqueness of the place lies in the large number of such fruits…’ and goes on to say that ‘...works of charity have also arisen in connection with various communities and associations, particularly those that care for orphans, drug addicts, alcoholics, children facing various difficulties, and people with disabilities.’

Surely those of us involved in Mary’s Meals can, with great joy, recognize ourselves in this. Mary’s Meals has long been described as a fruit of Medjugorje (not just by me!) and we might also be grateful for various fruits in our own personal lives and families – conversions, healings, new life…

For me the greatest surprise on reading the document was to see a number of Our Lady’s messages being quoted directly, including this one on 25 February 1997:

“I call upon you, my children, to see who needs your spiritual or material help. By your example, my children, you will be the outstretched hands of God, which humanity is seeking.”

Mary's Meals could have been a response to this message alone. When I read it, I think of the tens of thousands of hands outstretched each day in our simple, practical work of love – cooking and serving all those daily school meals for the world's poorest children.

But the work of Mary's Meals was not actually a direct response to any one specific message at Medjugorje, rather it was a very unexpected fruit born in the lives of people who were trying their best (and in my case often failing) to live the fundamental invitation being made by our loving mother at Medjugorje – to return to her Son Jesus with all our hearts, and to do this through prayer, fasting, Holy Mass, Confession, and Scripture. And this way be transformed by His love. Nothing we did not already know – but many things we desperately need reminded of, and encouraged in.

The last message that the Church points us to in the The Queen of Peace document says it beautifully:

“Dear children, my words are simple [...]. I am calling you to my Son. Only He can transform despair and suffering into peace and serenity. Only He can give hope in the deepest sorrows. My Son is the Life of the world. The more you come to know Him, the closer you come to Him, and all the more will you love Him because my Son is Love. Love changes everything; even that which seems insignificant to you apart from love is made most beautiful by love.” (2 September 2018)

This invitation to love, being made by Our Blessed Mother in Medjugorje is of the outmost importance for the world. With great urgency we need to respond to this ‘spiritual proposal’ (as the Church calls it in The Queen of Peace document) and re-discover how to love. And thus, re-learn how to live in peace.

Each day, amongst the increasing multitudes visiting Medjugorje from every corner of the world, faith is being re-born and many wonderful new choices are being made. And thus, the seeds of all sorts of wonderful fruit are being sown in great abundance. Fruit that can renew us, our Church, and the face of the earth.

It was a personal joy for me that it was Pope Francis who approved this document. His deep love of Our Blessed Mother was evident in many ways from the beginning to the end of his pontificate (and even afterwards given his choice to be buried in her Basilica in Rome, where it was deeply moving to see the children presenting her with flowers just before he was laid to rest near her icon). And several times he offered all of us in Mary’s Meals direct encouragement in our work. I won’t ever forget him gripping my arm tightly not long after he became Pope and saying with a beautiful smile ‘Avanti! Avanti! Avanti!’ (Go forward! Go forward! Go forward!). It is striking how often his own urgent invitations – to prayer, to love our neighbour, to work for peace, to appreciate God’s creation – mirrored those of Our Lady.

For this great legacy you left the world, Pope Francis, we thank you with all our hearts.