Authorities said the attack targeted the Marian shrine of Medjugorje, located about 140km southwest of Sarajevo, a site that gained global attention in the 1980s after reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Over time, Medjugorje has grown into one of the world’s best-known pilgrimage destinations, drawing more than one million visitors each year. Photos published by local media showed extensive damage, with black spray paint smeared across the face of the central statue of the Virgin Mary. That decision further elevated the profile of the small village, which has attracted followers since six young people said they saw the Virgin Mary there in 1981. “It is with great sadness that we learned of the act of vandalism targeting our parish’s places of prayer,” the office said.