The Vatican has formally recognized the shrine of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina while refraining from validating the alleged messages from the Virgin Mary reported by visionaries since 1981. A 17-page document approved by Pope Francis acknowledged the shrine's spiritual significance but emphasized that it does not authenticate the supernatural claims. The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith noted the economic impact of religious tourism in Medjugorje, raising concerns about the motivations behind the visions. Millions continue to visit the site annually, despite the lack of official recognition compared to other Catholic pilgrimage sites like Fatima and Lourdes. The recognition aims to conclude a long-standing debate within the Catholic community, while leaving room for skepticism regarding the authenticity of the apparitions and the moral integrity of the visionaries. Pope Francis has previously expressed doubts about the frequency of messages attributed to the Virgin, emphasizing that the Virgin is not a 'chief of the post office'.