Pope Francis gathered Marian groups from around the world for the Marian Day of Prayer in which he consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on October 13, 2013, a feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. He invited delegations from all major Church-approved apparition sites and from one that has not been approved—Medjugorje. Fr. Marinko Sakota, pastor of St. James Church in Medjugorje, led a group to Rome for the event. With the Vatican Commission still in the process of its deliberation concerning the authenticity of the apparitions, the members of the parish of Medjugorje were not only given front row seats, but seats very close to the Holy Father on both days, a special grace not afforded to “recognized” sanctuaries.
