…By Jack Sylva for TDPel Media. The Vatican has established a task force to tackle the increasing number of people claiming to have direct contact with the Virgin Mary.
Some of these so-called “Madonna mystics” make allegations against the Pope and the Catholic Church and cause confusion by promoting apocalyptic scenarios.
Virgin Mary
The Vatican warns that while thousands of people claim to have a private relationship with the Virgin Mary, only a few are recognised as genuine, and people can be easily misled.
The task force is led by Father Stefano Cecchin, head of the Mariana Internationalis pontifical academy.
The move comes as Gisella Cardia, a woman in her 50s, claims that her statue of the Virgin Mary can create slices of pizza, which she says has drawn hundreds of followers.
Cardia, who was convicted of fraud in Sicily, says the Madonna gives her predictions.
Cardia’s followers are defending her, saying she draws more people to her events than to mass.
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They say that in 2019, Cardia predicted the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the Virgin Mary told her that an epidemic was coming from China and that vaccines would be of no use.
Analysis:
The Vatican’s response to the growing number of people claiming to have direct contact with the Virgin Mary highlights the Catholic Church’s ongoing struggle to navigate between its doctrinal teachings and the personal beliefs of its followers.
While the Church is open to personal spiritual experiences, it must also protect its followers from false prophets and fraudulent practices.
Cardia’s claims of pizza being created by her statue of the Virgin Mary may seem absurd, but they represent a serious challenge to the Vatican’s authority.
The Church must confront the problem of people making claims that go against its teachings while still protecting the spiritual experiences of its followers.
The task force established by the Vatican to combat these claims is a proactive approach to managing this issue.
The Church must be careful not to dismiss the beliefs of its followers, while also ensuring that they are not being misled or taken advantage of.
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The Vatican’s challenge is to strike a balance between protecting its followers and allowing them to have personal spiritual experiences.
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