St. James Church, the parish said, would remain open to pilgrims. About 30 minutes after police were informed of the vandalism, a fire broke out at the altar of St. James Church. Three separate diocesan commissions between 1982 and 1990 studied the alleged apparitions, and all concluded that they could not confirm if a supernatural event had occurred. Although the pope acknowledged that pilgrims who visit Medjugorje deserve spiritual care and support, he expressed doubts about claims of the continuing apparitions of Mary. Nevertheless, in 2024, Pope Francis approved devotions at Medjugorje without officially weighing in on the alleged apparitions.