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A well-known Catholic shrine in Bosnia that draws thousands of international pilgrims — including many from Ireland — was vandalised this week, authorities and local church officials said. The attack came just days before a major youth festival scheduled in the town.
Damage discovered early on Tuesday
Residents in Medjugorje woke on Tuesday to find several religious sites defaced and one altar deliberately set alight. Witnesses reported paint smeared across statues and threatening words scrawled on stone plinths.
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On Apparition Hill, a statue of the Virgin Mary was daubed with black paint across the face, chest and dress. Someone had written “Devil in a skirt” on the statue’s pedestal. A nearby stone slab was marked with the word “DEVIL”, and an altar behind St. James parish church had been torched, according to local reports.
Police and parish reactions
Local police later told media they had taken a suspect into custody. The shrine remains open to visitors while the investigation continues.
The Medjugorje parish office expressed sorrow at the incident and urged the faithful to respond without anger. In a statement it called on devotees to follow “what Our Lady has been teaching us in Medjugorje for more than 40 years: with prayer, fasting, and forgiveness.”
Parish leaders said they were praying “for the conversion of the hearts of those who committed this act” and discouraged any return of violence or retaliation.
Why the site matters
Medjugorje rose to global prominence after six local children reported apparitions of Mary in 1981. Since then it has become one of the most visited Marian pilgrimage destinations in the world, drawing pilgrims for prayer and reflection.
During the Balkan wars of the 1990s the town also served as a place of refuge. Despite surrounding conflict at the time, daily prayers continued at the site, a legacy that contributes to its significance for many visitors today.
