Vatican News reports that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has determined that the spiritual experience linked to alleged supernatural phenomena, particularly those affecting Mount Sant'Onofrio in Agnone, Molise, is "prae oculis habeatur." This was announced by the Dicastery's prefect, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, in a letter to the Bishop of Trivento, Camillo Cibotti , confirming the diocesan ordinary's decision.
The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith confirms the determination of “prae oculis habeatur” proposed by the Bishop of Trivento regarding the alleged supernatural phenomena at Mount Sant'Onofrio in Agnone, in Molise.
This means—the cardinal explains—that "although important positive signs are recognized, some elements of confusion or possible risks are also noted that require careful discernment and dialogue with the recipients of a given spiritual experience by the diocesan bishop. If there are writings or messages, doctrinal clarification may be necessary" (Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena, no. 18).
The case concerns the alleged apparitions of the Virgin which, starting in 2010, have had their center on Mount Sant'Onofrio.
"From reading the extensive material" received by the Dicastery, Cardinal Fernández emphasizes, "we can conclude that this spiritual experience contains several positive aspects and signs of the Holy Spirit's action amidst this alleged spiritual phenomenon." The alleged messages of Our Lady constantly recall the fundamental means of sanctification—the Word of God, the Eucharist, and Reconciliation—along with a call to solidarity with the world we live in: the Virgin urges us to collaborate with God for the good of humanity and asks for concrete acts of charity toward those who suffer. "It is important," the Cardinal Prefect notes, "to emphasize how Our Lady always directs us to Jesus Christ." The messages also frequently invoke the Holy Spirit.
However, the cardinal adds, "there are two aspects that must be considered with particular care": the first is that the previous bishop of Trivento, Claudio Palumbo, indicated a "failure to observe the prescriptions imposed by the local Ordinary regarding the prohibition of any form of public or private worship." This observation, however, did not refer directly to the alleged visionary's behavior but to "certain ecclesiastics" who want to encourage this non-compliance "regardless of the Church's judgment," thus constituting " a de facto parallel magisterium" and thus causing "a wound in ecclesial communion that is certainly not a positive sign." On the other hand, Fernández notes, "the alleged messages themselves contain a call to obedience."
The second aspect to be considered with particular care is the fact that the letter containing the opinion of the previous bishop of Trivento on the alleged phenomena also referred to a possible confusion "about the nature of the relationship between the souls of the deceased" and the Church that lives in history. Although this "confusion" does not emerge from explicit and specific statements or from the practices of the alleged seer, it is equally true that there are "possible risks" that justify, along with the evaluation of the positive signs, the need for a period of vigilance.
Cardinal Fernández then clarifies the nature of the determination of “ prae oculis habeatur ”. First of all, it does not yet permit public worship, where the latter expression refers to those liturgical acts performed “in the name of the Church by persons legitimately appointed and through acts approved by the authority of the Church” ( Code of Canon Law , can. 834 §2). Consequently, this judgment excludes the following elements: the celebration of liturgical rites in places associated with the phenomenon without the explicit approval of the competent ecclesiastical authority; pilgrimages or other pastoral events of public importance by parishes or other ecclesiastical structures; the possibility of disseminating, without the approval of the ecclesiastical authority, the phenomenon and its alleged messages; and the activity of welcoming people to share this experience.
However, the prefect specifies, "since no serious findings requiring further intervention have emerged, private worship is permitted : a personal visit, in pairs or in very small groups, in this case to the site of the cross erected on Mount St. Onofrio before the alleged phenomena began, or along the route of the Stations of the Cross set up to accompany the ascent of the mountain with prayer. This implies that those involved in the phenomenon must maintain an attitude of humility and be open to dialogue with the ecclesiastical authorities, who are called upon to do everything possible to evaluate the progress of the experience and correct any confusing aspects."
See full text: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20250725_lettera-monte-s-onofrio_en.html
This means—the cardinal explains—that "although important positive signs are recognized, some elements of confusion or possible risks are also noted that require careful discernment and dialogue with the recipients of a given spiritual experience by the diocesan bishop. If there are writings or messages, doctrinal clarification may be necessary" (Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena, no. 18).
The case concerns the alleged apparitions of the Virgin which, starting in 2010, have had their center on Mount Sant'Onofrio.
"From reading the extensive material" received by the Dicastery, Cardinal Fernández emphasizes, "we can conclude that this spiritual experience contains several positive aspects and signs of the Holy Spirit's action amidst this alleged spiritual phenomenon." The alleged messages of Our Lady constantly recall the fundamental means of sanctification—the Word of God, the Eucharist, and Reconciliation—along with a call to solidarity with the world we live in: the Virgin urges us to collaborate with God for the good of humanity and asks for concrete acts of charity toward those who suffer. "It is important," the Cardinal Prefect notes, "to emphasize how Our Lady always directs us to Jesus Christ." The messages also frequently invoke the Holy Spirit.
However, the cardinal adds, "there are two aspects that must be considered with particular care": the first is that the previous bishop of Trivento, Claudio Palumbo, indicated a "failure to observe the prescriptions imposed by the local Ordinary regarding the prohibition of any form of public or private worship." This observation, however, did not refer directly to the alleged visionary's behavior but to "certain ecclesiastics" who want to encourage this non-compliance "regardless of the Church's judgment," thus constituting " a de facto parallel magisterium" and thus causing "a wound in ecclesial communion that is certainly not a positive sign." On the other hand, Fernández notes, "the alleged messages themselves contain a call to obedience."
The second aspect to be considered with particular care is the fact that the letter containing the opinion of the previous bishop of Trivento on the alleged phenomena also referred to a possible confusion "about the nature of the relationship between the souls of the deceased" and the Church that lives in history. Although this "confusion" does not emerge from explicit and specific statements or from the practices of the alleged seer, it is equally true that there are "possible risks" that justify, along with the evaluation of the positive signs, the need for a period of vigilance.
Cardinal Fernández then clarifies the nature of the determination of “ prae oculis habeatur ”. First of all, it does not yet permit public worship, where the latter expression refers to those liturgical acts performed “in the name of the Church by persons legitimately appointed and through acts approved by the authority of the Church” ( Code of Canon Law , can. 834 §2). Consequently, this judgment excludes the following elements: the celebration of liturgical rites in places associated with the phenomenon without the explicit approval of the competent ecclesiastical authority; pilgrimages or other pastoral events of public importance by parishes or other ecclesiastical structures; the possibility of disseminating, without the approval of the ecclesiastical authority, the phenomenon and its alleged messages; and the activity of welcoming people to share this experience.
However, the prefect specifies, "since no serious findings requiring further intervention have emerged, private worship is permitted : a personal visit, in pairs or in very small groups, in this case to the site of the cross erected on Mount St. Onofrio before the alleged phenomena began, or along the route of the Stations of the Cross set up to accompany the ascent of the mountain with prayer. This implies that those involved in the phenomenon must maintain an attitude of humility and be open to dialogue with the ecclesiastical authorities, who are called upon to do everything possible to evaluate the progress of the experience and correct any confusing aspects."
See full text: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20250725_lettera-monte-s-onofrio_en.html
Source: Vatican News It
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