On May 17, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a new document with updated guidelines for handling reports of supernatural events. These norms, effective from May 19, aim to streamline the process while respecting people’s devotion.
The document includes an introduction by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández and outlines six potential conclusions for reported phenomena. The Church will no longer officially declare such events as supernatural but will focus on promoting devotion and pilgrimages if appropriate. This change aims to avoid lengthy investigations while providing timely pastoral responses.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith must approve the final decisions made by local bishops and can intervene at any time. This approach helps manage cases that have broader implications beyond one diocese.
The new norms were developed from lessons learned over the last century, where quick declarations of supernatural phenomena often led to conflicting decisions by successive bishops or later scrutiny by the Holy Office.
Cardinal Fernández highlighted that while many events have inspired faith and devotion, some have led to harmful outcomes, such as exploitation or doctrinal errors. The Church’s new guidelines ensure a careful evaluation of each phenomenon to protect the faithful from potential risks.
The Church will not declare any event as definitively supernatural but will encourage devotion where positive signs are present. The process includes thorough investigations by the local bishop, who must consult a commission of experts and submit findings to the Dicastery. This approach aims to balance respect for popular piety with careful discernment.
Source: Vatican News
