In a significant development for Marian devotion, the Vatican has granted a nihil obstat—meaning “nothing stands in the way”—to the alleged Marian apparitions on Mount Zvir near Litmanová, Slovakia. While the Church stopped short of declaring the events supernatural, it affirmed the site’s pastoral value and approved public worship there, marking an important moment for the thousands of faithful who have long visited the shrine.
The apparitions reportedly took place between 1990 and 1995 and were experienced by three children: Ivetka Korcáková, Katka Ceselková, and Mitko Ceselka. Since then, the site has become a thriving place of pilgrimage, especially for Byzantine-rite Catholics. According to a July letter from Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s decision came in response to Archbishop Jonáš Jozef Maxim’s formal request. The archbishop highlighted “the countless sincere and heartfelt confessions and conversions experienced by pilgrims” and the “constant flow” of visitors still seeking spiritual renewal, despite the alleged apparitions ending over 30 years ago.
This nihil obstat does not declare the events to be of supernatural origin. Rather, it recognizes that “the faithful can safely approach this spiritual offering,” as Cardinal Fernández wrote, and that the phenomenon has yielded “many spiritual fruits” (Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, July 2025). The Vatican thus acknowledges the devotion surrounding Mount Zvir as worthy of public expression, while maintaining doctrinal caution.
The content of the messages attributed to the Virgin Mary frequently urges conversion, simplicity, and trust in Christ. One often-cited message states: “Let Jesus set you free. Let Jesus set you free. And do not allow your enemy to limit your freedom, for which Jesus shed so much blood. A soul that is free is the soul of a child” (Dec. 5, 1993). Another tender exhortation emphasizes unconditional love: “I love you, just as you are. I love you. I love you! I want you to be happy, but this world will never make you happy” (Aug. 7, 1994). Pilgrims are called to seek spiritual silence and simplicity: “Begin to live simply, to think simply, and to act simply. Seek out silence so that the Spirit of Christ may be born anew within you” (June 5, 1994).
However, not all the messages were embraced without concern. The Vatican acknowledged that “some messages contain ambiguities or unclear formulations,” including statements suggesting mass condemnation of a region’s people or asserting that “the cause of all illness is sin.” As noted in the dicastery’s letter, such problematic statements “have not been deemed acceptable for publication.” A doctrinal commission previously determined that the visionaries experienced these messages as inner locutions rather than audible speech, which may account for inconsistencies.
To guard against confusion, Cardinal Fernández asked the local archbishop to compile a collection of messages, carefully excluding any content “that could lead to confusion or disturb the faith of ordinary people.”
This approach reflects the Vatican’s new 2024 norms on evaluating supernatural phenomena, which offer varying degrees of approval—from positive pastoral assessment to outright rejection—without requiring a final judgment on supernatural authenticity. These guidelines aim to prevent fraudulent claims while respecting genuine spiritual experiences. As of May 2024, the authority to assess such events now lies solely with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, not with local bishops.
The faithful are thus encouraged to visit Mount Zvir and participate in approved Marian devotion with confidence, trusting that the Church, while cautious, affirms the spiritual richness many have found there. As the Vatican notes, “the contents can help [the faithful] live the Gospel of Christ more deeply.”
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