Pilgrim's guide
Medjugorje - pilgrim's guide
Photos: gnuckx · CC BY 2.0
Medjugorje (Međugorje) is a parish in Herzegovina to which, since 1981, pilgrims from all over the world have come to pray to Mary, Queen of Peace. This guide explains the Church's current position, suggests how to get there and how to prepare for climbing Podbrdo and Križevac.
Machine-translated guide.
Why go
Pilgrims return from Medjugorje above all with an experience of prayer and the sacraments. Long evening services, adoration, the Rosary on the hillsides and the queues for confession lead many people to return to the Church for the first time in years or to renew their faith.
In a 2024 document the Holy See named exactly these fruits: conversions, frequent return to confession and the Eucharist, numerous vocations, a renewed life of prayer and reconciliation in families. This is a good key to the pilgrimage: you come here to meet Christ and Mary, not in search of sensation.
A short history and the Church's position
Medjugorje is a village in the municipality of Čitluk in Bosnia and Herzegovina, seat of the parish of St James, established in 1892. Since 24 June 1981 six local children, now adults, have spoken of apparitions of Our Lady, called here the Queen of Peace. The first events are associated with the hill of Podbrdo. On the nearby mountain of Križevac a large cross, more than ten metres high, was erected in the 1930s, and a Way of the Cross leads up to it.
On 19 September 2024 the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the approval of Pope Francis, published the note "Queen of Peace" on the spiritual experience connected with Medjugorje. The note grants this experience a nihil obstat. This means that the faithful may draw positive encouragement from it for their Christian life and that public acts of devotion and pilgrimages are permitted. The corresponding decree is issued by the Bishop of Mostar-Duvno.
The note states clearly what the nihil obstat does not mean. The Church does not declare the supernatural character of the phenomena or the authenticity of the apparitions, and the faithful are not obliged to believe in them. The "messages" should always be referred to as alleged messages. The document appreciates the edifying content of most of them, but also points out wording that is unclear or calls for caution, and warns against dependence on the messages at the expense of Sacred Scripture. It encourages pilgrims to come to meet Mary, Queen of Peace, and Christ in the Word, the Eucharist and adoration, not to meet the so-called visionaries.
Getting there
Most pilgrims travel to Medjugorje by coach with a parish group or pilgrimage agency, by car, or by air via the Croatian coast or Bosnia. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a member of the European Union, so there are border checks. Before you travel, check your government's travel advice on which document you need for entry, as well as health insurance rules, which may differ in a non-EU country.
- by coach: the most common way for organised pilgrimages; coaches from Central Europe usually travel via Hungary and Croatia, often with an overnight stop on the way
- by car: usually via Croatia and then into Herzegovina; have your vehicle documents ready and check the insurance requirements for Bosnia
- by air: to the airports of Split, Dubrovnik, Mostar or Sarajevo, and then by bus, transfer or hire car; check connections with the airlines
- the nearest larger town is Mostar, from where Medjugorje is easiest to reach by local transport
When to go
The parish prayer programme runs all year round. Spring and early autumn have the most pleasant weather. Summer in Herzegovina can be very hot, which makes climbing the hills during the day difficult, while winter is quieter and cooler. The parish publishes important dates on its website.
- 24-25 June - anniversary of the beginning of the events, very many pilgrims
- 25 July - Solemnity of St James, patron of the parish
- early August - the International Youth Festival (Mladifest), thousands of young people from all over the world
- May and October - Marian months, a good time for the Rosary on Podbrdo
What to see and experience
- the parish church of St James and the area behind it, where the evening prayer programme takes place
- Podbrdo (Apparition Hill) - a stony path with the mysteries of the Rosary
- Križevac (Cross Mountain) - the Way of the Cross to the summit with a large cross and a view over the whole area
- adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as part of the parish programme
- confession - confessionals around the church and the possibility of confession in various languages
- broadcasts of the prayer programme on the parish website, which let you keep praying together after you return home
Practical information
- prayer programme, Masses in national languages and adoration: check the current schedule on the parish website
- language: locals speak Croatian; Masses are celebrated in many languages, and pilgrimage groups often bring their own priest
- currency: Bosnia and Herzegovina has its own currency, the convertible mark; cards are also accepted in many places
- footwear: for Podbrdo and Križevac sturdy shoes with good soles are essential, as the paths are stony and slippery after rain
- heat: in summer climb the hills early in the morning or towards evening, and take water and a hat
- groups: pilgrimage organisers will find guidance for groups and priests on the parish website
- documents and health: before you travel, check your government's current travel advice
Accommodation and food
Medjugorje has a very large range of accommodation, mainly family guesthouses and pilgrim houses, often with meals. Most organised groups have accommodation and meals included in the price of the trip. Independent travellers should book early for the anniversary in June and the youth festival in August. The parish also organises retreats, announced on its website.
Tips from pilgrims
- Come ready for prayer rather than sightseeing; what stays with you most is the evening programme in the church and the square.
- Climb Križevac and Podbrdo at your own pace; you do not have to imitate those who walk barefoot.
- Take a torch or head torch if you climb before dawn or come down after dark.
- Plan your confession at the start of your stay, as at the height of the season the queues at the confessionals are long.
- Keep shopping for devotional items to a minimum and do not get drawn into chasing sensations; peace here is worth more than souvenirs.
- Leave time for silence on the hills outside the hours when large groups go up.
On foot and on the trail
Medjugorje is small and all the places of prayer are within walking distance. The climb up Podbrdo is short but stony. The Way of the Cross up Križevac is longer and more demanding, so allow a few hours for it, including prayer at the stations. Older people and those with knee problems should go at a gentle pace and use walking poles.
Frequently asked questions
Has the Church recognised the apparitions in Medjugorje?
No. In 2024 the Holy See granted a nihil obstat to the spiritual experience connected with Medjugorje, which allows pilgrimages and public devotion to Mary, Queen of Peace. However, the note does not declare the supernatural character of the phenomena, and the faithful are not obliged to believe in them.
May a Catholic go on pilgrimage to Medjugorje?
Yes. The note of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith of 19 September 2024 explicitly permits pilgrimages and public acts of piety. It encourages pilgrims to come to meet Mary and Christ, not to meet the so-called visionaries.
What document do I need to enter Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a member of the EU, so there are border checks. Before you travel, check the current requirements for documents, visas and insurance in your government's travel advice.
How do I get to Medjugorje?
Most often by coach with an organised pilgrimage or by car via Croatia. You can also fly to Split, Dubrovnik, Mostar or Sarajevo and continue by transfer or bus.
How should I prepare for climbing Križevac?
Wear sturdy shoes, take water and a hat, and in summer set off early in the morning or towards evening. The path is stony and steep, and praying at the stations of the Way of the Cross takes extra time.
When is the youth festival in Medjugorje?
Mladifest takes place every year at the beginning of August. The parish publishes the exact dates and programme on its website.
