New DDF Document: Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena

Approved by ‘Pope’ Francis…

Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment
of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena

May 17, 2024

The Vatican’s text factory has just released another official document: Jorge Bergoglio (a.k.a. ‘Pope Francis’) has approved the publication of an instruction issued by the so-called Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) establishing ‘Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena’. The document does not appear to have an official title besides this descriptive one. The new guidelines are replacing those issued in 1978 under ‘Pope’ Paul VI.

So far, the Vatican has made the text of the Norms available in the following languages:

• Full Text in English
• Full Text in Spanish
• Full Text in French
• Full Text in Italian
• Full Text in German
• Full Text in Polish
• Full Text in Portuguese

The key changes made by the new Norms appear to be that the local bishop no longer has authority to declare an alleged apparition to be of supernatural origin, and the Vatican will ordinarily not rule regarding its supernatural authenticity either. Instead, while the DDF may clearly rule an alleged such phenomenon as not being supernatural, the most positive ruling it will give is what it calls the Nihil Obstat [=nothing stands in the way]:

Without expressing any certainty about the supernatural authenticity of the phenomenon itself, many signs of the action of the Holy Spirit are acknowledged “in the midst” [18] of a given spiritual experience, and no aspects that are particularly critical or risky have been detected, at least so far. For this reason, the Diocesan Bishop is encouraged to appreciate the pastoral value of this spiritual proposal, and even to promote its spread, including possibly through pilgrimages to a sacred site.

In footnote [18], the new document clarifies what is meant by “in the midst of”, to wit:

The expression “in the midst of” does not mean “by means of” or “through,” but indicates that even though a certain context is not necessarily of supernatural origin, the Holy Spirit is working good things.

Considering what the false Second Vatican Council has to say about the Holy Spirit supposedly working by means of and through heretical sects — verbatim, that “…the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation…” (Unitatis Redintegratio, n. 3) — one shudders to imagine what this ‘Spirit’ might do “in the midst of” false apparitions, according to the apostates running Vatican City.

The following is a list of links with initial coverage, summaries, and commentary on the Norms by various sources:

• Vatican releases new norms on alleged supernatural phenomena (Vatican News)
• New Norms Give Vatican Greater Say on Alleged Apparitions (National Catholic Register)
• Vatican issues new norms on alleged visions, refusing to rule on supernatural origin of events (Life Site)
• Vatican Publishes New Norms To Discern Alleged Supernatural Phenomena (OSV News)
• The Vatican’s spectacular U-turn on Marian apparitions (La Croix International)
• In new vetting process for apparitions, Vatican nixes ‘supernatural’ label (Crux)
• Vatican cracks down on ‘supernatural’ occurrences in new apparition rules (National Catholic Reporter)
• The Six Possible Conclusions About Marian Apparitions According to the Vatican’s New Norms (Zenit)
• Video: Fatima and Apparitions: Francis Releases His New Document On Prophecy (Return to Tradition)
• Vatican doctrine czar says Medjugorje ruling not ready, but offers insight (Crux)
• Tightening up on apparitions: only Pope decides if event is supernatural (Daily Compass)
• Open to the Mystery, caring for the faith of ordinary people (Vatican News)
• How Ratzinger differentiated ‘the supernatural’ and spiritual fruits (Vatican News)
• Vatican Silences God? (One Peter Five)
• New norms to deny Marian apparitions (Daily Compass)
• The Real Apparitions are the Friends You Made Along the Way (Unam Sanctam Catholicam)
• On the new Vatican norms for the discernment of supernatural phenomena (Catholic World Report)

The following video reports provide pithy information concerning the Norms:

The full Vatican press conference introducing the new document can be watched here (Italian):

Regarding the press conference, Vatican journalist Diane Montagna writes:

Cardinal Fernández said at today’s presser: “Exceptionally a pope may say ‘I have a special interest in this phenomenon & think it should be encouraged.’ He would ask the Dicastery to launch a process to clarify whether or not it is supernatural. That would be very exceptional.”

(Source)

For more information about the man who falsely claims to be the Pope of the Catholic Church at this time (‘Pope Francis’), please see our topical page here.

“And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; lo, he is here: do not believe. For there will rise up false Christs and false prophets, and they shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce (if it were possible) even the elect. Take you heed therefore; behold I have foretold you all things.”

(Mark 13:21-23)

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