26 srp Our Lady of the Rocks
The Montenegrin Catholic shrine of Our Lady of the Rocks falls within the Montenegrin Diocese of Kotor which is under the Archdiocese of Bar, which Archbishop Kokolja currently heads. Unconfirmed, and surprising information, obtained from what appears to be Vatican sources, has indicated that the Archdiocese is not actually completely officially a body that is recognized by and that answers to the Vatican. This information is contrary to numerous sources, including Wikipedia. However, it is the Vatican that would know. If it is true, then this does suggest that errant clergy there cannot be disciplined properly, or derobed, according to Vatican rules. This may, again, if true, indicate a standard of behavior in Montenegro, for Catholic clergy, that is lower than the average. No Pope has visited Montenegro, whose Catholic population is around 3.5%, since the breakup of Yugoslavia. The majority of Montenegro’s population are of the Orthodox faith. The current Pope, Francis, is scheduled to visit Montenegro in 2020, so perhaps something has changed.
It is not believed that the Vatican has investigated and declared the site to officially be a place of apparition or miracle. The religious devotion to such sites in the Catholic church is very common, especially in Latin America.
The Croatian language in its usage makes no differentiation between a ‘shrine’ and a ‘sanctuary’.
