Pope Leo XIV to Youth in Medjugorje: 'Be Builders of Peace'
The Holy Father urged participants of Mladifest to rely on Our Lady and follow Jesus, just days after a Polish national desecrated statues and set fire to the altar of St. James Church.
The Holy Father urged participants of Mladifest to rely on Our Lady and follow Jesus, just days after a Polish national desecrated statues and set fire to the altar of St. James Church.
Days after a 31-year-old Polish man committed vandalism in Medjugorje, Pope Leo XIV addressed the youth gathered at the traditional festival. He called on them to direct their lives toward Jesus and the Virgin Mary, and his message during Mladifest was read by the apostolic visitor for the parish, Archbishop Aldo Cavalli.
According to a report from Prigorski, the shrine welcomed faithful from 73 countries despite the incident. "The Holy Father encourages young people to let themselves be led by the Holy Spirit and to entrust themselves to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, so that they may become bright witnesses of the Good News, promoters of fraternity, and builders of peace in society," Archbishop Cavalli conveyed the Pope's words.
The suspect, Bartłomiej Włodzimierz Krakowiak, was arrested earlier this week. He is accused of pouring black paint over the statues of Our Lady at Podbrdo and near the Blue Cross, writing offensive messages, and setting fire to the outdoor altar of St. James Church. Following his arrest, the court ordered him to be held in custody for 30 days, as reported by numerous media outlets.
In the meantime, the altar has been cleaned and restored to use, and it was from this very altar that Mass was celebrated for tens of thousands of young people. Among them were pilgrims from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Argentina, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Germany, France, Italy, the United States, Ukraine, and other countries.
Mladifest has been held since 1989, and this year's edition runs until August 6. The content is simultaneously translated into 18 world languages and includes prayers, catecheses, testimonies, Masses, a candlelight procession, adoration, a procession with the statue of Our Lady, and a performance by the Cenacolo community of recovered addicts.
Medjugorje attracted the attention of Catholic faithful worldwide after six children reported apparitions of Our Lady in 1981. In 2024, after years of studying the phenomenon, the Vatican issued a "Nihil obstat" statement for Medjugorje devotion, without confirming the supernatural character of the apparitions. Archbishop Aldo Cavalli is responsible for pastoral care of the parish and pilgrims.
