The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) grants its "nihil obstat" (meaning a “green light”), although with certain conditions, to the devotion linked to the Italian shrine of Maccio, Vatican News announced on July 24, 2024. This is the fifth case of apparitions on which the dicastery has officially pronounced itself since the new norms for investigating supernatural phenomena came into force in May.
The Maccio shrine, located in the province of Como in the Lombardy region, was inspired by the supposed spiritual experience of a parishioner, Gioacchino Genovese. He is a music teacher and father of two, who testified to perceiving an "interior voice" since the year 2000 that taught him about the mystery of the Holy Trinity.
In a letter dated July 15 and ratified by Pope Francis, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the DDF, authorized Cardinal Oscar Cantoni, Bishop of the Diocese of Como, where the shrine is located, to grant his "nihil obstat" to the local devotion. The Catholic faithful are thus authorized to make pilgrimages to the shrine and to experience spiritual events there.
Some resevation about Gioacchino Genovese's writings
“The whole affair [regarding the Shrine of Maccio] is imbued with positive elements” and there are “certain signs of an action of the Holy Spirit in the midst to this experience,” Cardinal Fernández wrote in the letter. However, he highlighted that there is “still a need to offer some clarifications regarding the writings of Mr. Gioacchino Genovese,” in order to avoid “misunderstandings.”
In particular the letter underlines the “imprecise use of the Trinitarian plural (“We”) to refer to the mystery of the incarnation and other similar expressions.” These “confusing” terms “are not acceptable and their diffusion must be avoided, as they can easily be interpreted in a way contrary to the Catholic faith,” the Cardinal continues.
He also recommends to not publish the “texts referring to the devil, mostly linked to the existential experience and personal concerns of Mr. Genovese,” and “texts that offer indications to the Bishop or to other people (details on dates, times, places, and other detailed or minute details).”
Finally, Cardinal Fernández asked that his letter be used as an introduction to any publications that collect Genovese’s writings.
Green light for the shrine
Having expressed these clarifications, the DDF goes on to offer a lengthy theological analysis, acknowledging that "it is certainly never easy to express oneself with precision on the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity."
“We can maintain that the spiritual proposal that arises from the experiences narrated by Mr. Gioacchino Genovese in relation to the 'Trinity Mercy,' if interpreted in light of what has been said, as supported by the various experts consulted, does not contain theological or moral elements contrary to the doctrine of the Church,” Cardinal Fernández concludes.
"If there are future messages from Mr. Genovese, before their diffusion or publication, they must be evaluated by the diocesan Bishop, in dialogue with this Dicastery,” he adds.
In the last months, the DDF has issued a series of official statements on alleged apparition sites.
On June 27, it ruled that the "apparitions of Trevignano Romano" near Rome were a mystical fraud. On July 8, Cardinal Fernández authorized the promotion of the Italian Marian apparitions known as the "Mystical Rose of Fontanelle" - or "Madonna of Montechiari". On July 11, he declared that the "Amsterdam" Marian apparitions were not of supernatural origin. And on July 16, he gave his 'nihil obstat' to the devotion of "Our Lady of the Rock," in Calabria.
