Celebrating Mass for the feast of Our Lady of the Snows at Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major, Pope Francis urged Catholics to remember the unexpected beauty of God's grace.
Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández declared that the Vatican will only validate reports of Marian apparitions in “exceptional” cases that incur the special interest of the pope.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith revealed a 1974 ruling surrounding alleged Marian apparitions that took place in Amsterdam in the mid-20th century, declaring they were found to not be supernatural following "persistent doubts" surrounding them.
A statue of Mary giving birth to Jesus was beheaded by an anonymous group of vandals, garnering support from traditionalist Catholics who have criticized the statue's depictions.