Reported Apparitions & Ecclesial Discernment

Status labels describe the ecclesial record located for each entry. They do not turn a devotional permission into a declaration of supernatural origin, and the absence of a located judgment does not prove that no investigation occurred.

Formally approved / worthy of belief

Meaning: The competent bishop has made an explicit positive judgment that the reported event is worthy of belief. This language is generally associated with older diocesan decisions, before the 2024 DDF framework.

Does not mean: Every alleged message, miracle, interpretation, promoter, or later devotional practice is automatically authentic or required for Catholics to believe.

Nihil obstat - pastoral permission; no supernatural finding

Meaning: Latin for "nothing stands in the way." The Church has found meaningful positive spiritual signs and no serious doctrinal or pastoral problems requiring intervention. The bishop may allow or encourage appropriate pastoral care, devotion, and sometimes pilgrimage.

Does not mean: Mary appeared, a visionary's experiences are supernatural, or every message is authentic. The DDF expressly says it normally does not decide supernatural origin.

Prae oculis habeatur - continued discernment with caution

Meaning: Latin roughly meaning "it should be kept in view." There are important positive signs, but also confusion, unanswered questions, or possible risks. The bishop must continue careful discernment and dialogue; messages may require doctrinal clarification.

Does not mean: Approval or a supernatural finding. Public promotion, worship, pilgrimages, or publication of messages may be restricted.

Pastoral management or restrictions

Meaning: The phenomenon may have some positive spiritual elements, but Church authorities require safeguards, correction, supervision, or limits. In the formal 2024 framework this can correspond especially to curatur or sub mandato.

Does not mean: An endorsement of the reported event or that alleged messages, practices, or groups may operate independently of the bishop.

Declared non-supernatural

Meaning: A competent authority has formally concluded that the claimed phenomenon is non-supernatural. Under the 2024 Norms, declaratio de non supernaturalitate requires concrete, established evidence, such as an admission of fabrication or credible evidence exposing falsity, deceptive intent, or serious unreliability. The older formula constat de non supernaturalitate also means that non-supernatural character has been established.

Does not mean: Merely "still unapproved," "under investigation," or "the Church has not yet decided." It is a negative ecclesial conclusion.

Historical negative judgment reported - primary decree pending

Meaning: Reliable secondary accounts report that the local bishop or another competent authority judged the claims negatively, but the signed original decree, official archival copy, or direct authoritative text has not yet been recovered and verified for the tracker.

Does not mean: A precise canonical formula, date, restriction, or sanction can be quoted as settled fact until the primary document is located.

Historical local recognition reported - primary decree pending

Meaning: Reliable secondary accounts report a local bishop's favorable recognition, but the original signed decree or an official archival reproduction has not yet been found and verified.

Does not mean: "Vatican-approved," or a fully verified positive judgment until the direct diocesan record is obtained.

No formal public judgment located

Meaning: Research has not located a public formal determination from the competent diocese, Eastern Catholic authority, bishops' conference, or DDF. The claim may be known locally or discussed publicly, but no verified official ruling was found.

Does not mean: Approval by silence, acceptance because a shrine exists, or permission to promote alleged messages as authentic.

Outside Roman Catholic discernment process

Meaning: The event's principal ecclesial setting is another Christian tradition, so Roman Catholic diocesan/DDF categories are not the applicable framework. In this tracker, Zeitoun is handled this way because it belongs principally to a Coptic Orthodox setting.

Does not mean: The Catholic Church has approved or rejected the event. It means the normal Roman Catholic apparition process is not the relevant decision process.