The Catholic Church is set to announce new norms to help determine the authenticity of visions of the Virgin Mary, stigmata, and other supernatural events. The move comes amidst a surge in claims and concerns over the spread of apocalyptic prophecies online, causing confusion among the faithful.
Confirmed authentic divine signs have historically led to a flourishing of faith, with examples such as the apparitions of Mary in Fatima and Lourdes becoming popular pilgrimage sites. Figures like Padre Pio and St. Francis of Assisi, who claimed to have experienced stigmata wounds, have inspired millions of Catholics.
