When asked by a journalist about the appearances of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje, Pope Francis said:

“I personally am rather suspicious…I prefer the Madonna as Mother…and not a woman …who every day sends a message at a certain hour. This is not the Mother of Jesus. And these presumed apparitions don’t have a lot of value.“

He clarified that this is his, “personal opinion,“ but added that the Madonna does not function by saying: “Come tomorrow at this time, and I will give a message to those people.“ A Friend of Medjugorje wrote in one of his earliest writings, “Understanding Our Lady’s Messages,“ the following to challenge Pope Francis? opinion that the apparitions and Our Lady?s messages don?t have a lot of value.