Our source hierarchy
- Primary Church and destination sources: Holy See and Vatican offices, dioceses, bishops’ conferences, official shrine, parish, basilica, cathedral, monastery, and religious-order sites.
- Authoritative public records: government heritage registers, museums, archives, universities, peer-reviewed research, and established archaeological institutions.
- Responsible secondary sources: reputable histories, devotional collections, and journalism used as leads or context, not as substitutes for an available primary source.
- Community submissions: valuable clues that enter a private review queue and are not published as fact until checked.
How a destination is published
Each record moves through research, source review, factual editing, recognition-language review, and publication. Practical details such as Mass times, opening hours, accessibility, lodging, and relic display are dated when verified. A missing verification date means the traveler should treat the detail as a lead and confirm it directly.
We prefer an honest “unknown” to false certainty. Conflicting sources are either explained or held back for further review.
Church-recognition terminology
A site can be a legitimate place of prayer or pilgrimage without the Church declaring that an alleged supernatural event unquestionably occurred. Catholic Tourist reports the competent authority’s words and avoids upgrading them.
Nihil obstat
Under the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s 2024 norms, this permits prudent adherence and pastoral promotion because positive spiritual signs are present and serious risks have not been found. It is not a declaration that the event is supernatural.
Approved devotion or pilgrimage
The competent authority permits or encourages the devotion, shrine, or pilgrimage. This does not automatically authenticate every associated message, relic claim, apparition, or miracle.
Historical approval language
Older cases may be described with earlier formulas such as constat de supernaturalitate. We identify the authority and date rather than flattening old and new procedures into one label.
Under discernment
No final public judgment has been located, or a competent investigation continues. The page must not present the alleged phenomenon as established fact.
Popular tradition
A long-standing local or devotional tradition is documented, but Catholic Tourist has not located a formal ecclesiastical determination supporting the specific claim.
Not approved or restricted
The competent authority has warned against, restricted, prohibited, or judged the claim negatively. We publish that status plainly and link the official decision where available.
Primary reference: the 2024 Dicastery norms on alleged supernatural phenomena.
Church titles are not a simple ranking
Cathedral
The church containing a diocesan bishop’s chair, or cathedra. Its title describes its role in a diocese, not necessarily its age, size, or pilgrimage importance.
Basilica
An honorific title granted to particular churches because of history, worship, or pastoral importance. A basilica may also be a cathedral or shrine.
Shrine or sanctuary
Canon law describes a shrine as a church or other sacred place visited by many faithful for a special reason of piety with the local ordinary’s approval. National and international titles require higher approvals.
Parish church
The worship center of a local parish community. Many are historically or artistically important, but parish status alone does not place a church in the pilgrimage catalog.
Abbey or monastery
A religious community and its buildings. It may include a church, guesthouse, relics, tombs, or a pilgrimage tradition.
Chapel or oratory
A smaller place of worship with a particular canonical or practical purpose. Small size does not mean small spiritual or historical significance.
Primary reference: Code of Canon Law, canons 1205–1243.
Corrections and source challenges
Email info@amabilemedia.com with the destination, disputed detail, and an official or authoritative source. Substantive corrections should be documented in the editorial record and re-verified before publication.