The Vatican has officially dismissed claims that Jesus Christ made special appearances in the small French town of Dozule, declaring that the alleged 1970s apparitions are “not supernatural in origin.”
In a statement issued Wednesday and approved by Pope Leo, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith its top doctrinal office said the phenomenon, which drew international attention for decades, does not have a divine or supernatural source.
“The phenomenon of the alleged apparitions… is to be regarded, definitively, as not supernatural in origin, with all the consequences that flow from this determination,” the statement read.
The apparitions were first reported by a Catholic woman from Dozule who claimed that Jesus appeared to her 49 times between 1972 and 1978, instructing her to build a 7.38-meter (24-foot) cross on a nearby hillside and warning that the world would end before the year 2000.
The Vatican noted that not only did this prophecy fail to materialize, but the investigation also found no evidence of a supernatural origin behind the events.
“The Cross does not need 7.38 meters of steel or concrete to be recognized; it is raised every time a heart, moved by grace, opens itself to forgiveness,” the Vatican emphasized.
Background on Apparitions in the Catholic Faith
In Catholic teaching, supernatural appearances known as apparitions are rare divine manifestations of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or other saints. When genuine, such events often inspire new devotions or calls to prayer and peace.
However, the Vatican maintains a strict evaluation process to authenticate alleged apparitions and routinely warns against exploiting them for financial or social gain.
Throughout history, the Vatican has officially recognized a limited number of apparitions, including:
- Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico, 1531)
- Our Lady of Lourdes (France, 1858)
- Jesus’ visions to St. Faustina Kowalska (Poland, 1930s)
The recent declaration regarding Dozule follows the Vatican’s continued effort to ensure clarity and doctrinal consistency within the Church.
Earlier this year, the Vatican also issued new guidance on the theological titles attributed to the Virgin Mary, emphasizing that she cannot be called the “Co-Redeemer” of the world reaffirming that salvation was achieved solely through Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
