Tens of thousands of pilgrims from more than 70 countries will participate from August 1 to 6 in the 37th edition of Mladifest, the Medjugorje International Youth Festival, which every summer transforms this parish in Bosnia and Herzegovina into one of the world’s leading centers for youth pilgrimages.
Founded in 1989 by the Franciscan friar Slavko Barbarić, the gathering began as an initiative to help young people deepen their faith through prayer and the sacraments. Three decades later, the festival has become the largest event in Medjugorje, bringing together pilgrims from all five continents every year.
"The nihil obstat »from the Vatican"
This year's edition is the second to be held since the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published the note in September 2024, The Queen of Peace, with which he awarded the nihil obstat on the pastoral experience of Medjugorje. The document acknowledged the abundant spiritual fruits associated with the shrine and encouraged pilgrimages, though it did not take a position on the authenticity of the alleged Marian apparitions.
The Vatican then asked pilgrims to “accept that pilgrimages are not undertaken to meet so-called visionaries, but to encounter Mary, Queen of Peace, and, faithful to her love for her Son, to encounter Christ and listen to him through meditation on the Word, participation in the Eucharist, and Eucharistic adoration.”.
«To the Source!»: Six Days of Prayer and Fellowship
The theme chosen for this year’s event is «Ad fontem! To the Source! – At the School of the Virgin.».
The program will begin on August 1 with the Rosary, the official opening ceremony, and Holy Mass. Over the following days, there will be catechesis, the famous testimonies, Eucharistic adoration, penitential services, the traditional procession with the image of the Virgin, the candlelight prayer before the Cross on Mount Križevac, and the closing Mass at dawn on August 6.
As it does every year, the festival begins with the colorful International Parade, in which thousands of young people from all five continents march through Medjugorje carrying their countries’ flags. Music and dance alternate with times of prayer, while pilgrimages to Podbrdo and Križevac, theatrical performances, and opportunities to meet with Catholic associations and movements round out a program designed to foster both fellowship and spiritual growth.
The Pope invited young people to seek out genuine encounters
In the 2025 edition, Pope Leo XIV sent a message to the participants in which he presented the festival as an opportunity to learn to walk alongside others and discover that faith is never lived in isolation. Without referring to the alleged apparitions in Medjugorje, the Pontiff focused his reflection on the value of encounter and community.
Citing the Virgin Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth as an example, Leo XIV recalled that the Christian life is a shared journey. «On life’s journey, we never walk alone,» he wrote. «Our journey is always intertwined with that of others: we are made for encounter, to walk together and discover a common destiny.».
The Pope also warned of the risk of replacing personal relationships with technology. «No algorithm will ever be able to replace a hug, a glance, or a real encounter—whether with God, with our friends, or with our family,» he said, encouraging young people to take advantage of Mladifest to get to know one another, share their faith, and build authentic friendships.
He also noted that those who come to Medjugorje from dozens of countries discover that there is «a language stronger than any barrier: the language of faith, nourished by God’s love.» For this reason, he urged them to open their hearts to God’s call and, if anyone feels a vocation to the priesthood or to consecrated life, not to be afraid to respond generously.
A festival that continues to grow
The organizers present Mladifest as a school of prayer for the younger generations. Each day centers on the Rosary, the Eucharist, adoration, and testimonies of conversion, accompanied by an international choir and orchestra made up of young people from many countries.
Those who are unable to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina can follow the celebrations through the official channels of Media Mir Medjugorje, which will broadcast the festival in its entirety. In addition, the Mladifest program is translated and broadcast in nineteen languages, including Spanish, numerous Slavic languages, as well as Korean, Hungarian, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Arabic.
Here's how the 36th edition of Mladifest went:
