Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, who has served since 2021 as Special Apostolic Visitor for the parish of Međjugorje, will turn 80 on October 18. The archbishop is understood to have already placed his mandate in the hands of Pope Leo XIV, and the decision now rests with the Pope.
His departure could open — finally, according to some — a new phase for Međjugorje. In this new phase, the next Apostolic Visitor — who is expected to be appointed before Christmas — may be asked not only to provide pastoral care for the millions of pilgrims who arrive in the Herzegovinian town every year, but also to exercise a more incisive presence over the many ecclesial, religious and associative groups that have developed around the phenomenon of the Gospa.
It was the first Apostolic Visitor, the Polish Archbishop Henryk Hoser, who acted more decisively in this area, publicly drawing attention to problematic situations and to activities that, in his view, required greater oversight.
With Cavalli’s arrival, however, the Holy See’s approach appeared, at least from the outside, more discreet and predominantly pastoral. He is not remembered for particularly disruptive interventions or positions that marked a turning point in the management of the various realities present in Međjugorje. Some dissatisfaction has also surrounded an approach judged more inclined toward welcoming the faithful — he is often seen taking part in large meals with pilgrims — than toward monitoring what happens around the shrine.
Now, however, something may change. After the nihil obstat granted by the Vatican in 2024 to the spiritual experience of Međjugorje — which, it should be remembered, does not amount to recognition of the supernatural character of the alleged apparitions — the Holy See may choose a more operational profile.
“The new Visitor will have to be a decisive and present man, capable of dialogue with the different ecclesial, associative and religious realities,” a member of the Secretariat of State tells me.
The choice of Cavalli’s successor, therefore, will not be merely a replacement. It could indicate what kind of Međjugorje the Holy See intends to govern in the years ahead.
Originally published in Italian on Il Segno di Giona on September 28, 2026.
For the broader context, see the Vatican investigation into Medjugorje
READ THE FULL VATICAN DOSSIER
David Murgia’s investigation into the confidential Vatican documentation on Medjugorje is available in three editions on Amazon.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Murgia is an Italian journalist, author and member of the Pontifical International Marian Academy. His investigations have brought to light the world of self-styled holy men and false healers. The New York Times described him as a “formidable investigator of the sacred.” A commentator for Rai and Mediaset, he was the first journalist in the world to publish in full the secret Vatican dossier on Medjugorje. He lives and works in Rome.
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