The Vatican officially recognized Medjugorje as a place of pilgrimage and popular piety, stopping short of confirming the supernatural origin of the apparitions.

In a talk to leaders of popular grassroots movements, Pope Francis said, “It is often precisely the wealthiest who oppose the realization of social justice or integral ecology out of sheer greed.”

The Vatican has approved the promotion of devotion to the Virgin Mary at Medjugorje but did not make any declaration on the alleged supernatural character of the Marian apparitions there.

At a press conference today, Cardinal Grech made clear that there’s no point in returning to these hot-button topics this October since they were already discussed at the first session and are now being studied in-depth.

Veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell reports live from Dili, where Pope Francis continues his longest international visit to date: a two-week tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Archbishop Georg Gänswein's appointment as Apostolic Nuncio for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania calls attention to the Catholic Church’s support for Ukraine