The Vatican has officially rejected claims of supernatural apparitions of Jesus Christ reported in the French town of Dozulé during the 1970s, deeming them as false. The phenomenon, linked to a Catholic mother, Madeleine Aumont, who claimed to have seen Jesus 49 times, led to an ambitious plan to construct an enormous cross known as the “Glorious Cross of Dozulé.” The cross was intended to be over 2,000 feet tall and illuminated, according to the claims made at the time.
Pope Leo XIV’s doctrinal office has stated that these apparitions are not of supernatural origin, emphasizing that the cross itself symbolizes Christ’s sacrifice and the importance of grace and forgiveness. The decision underscores the Church’s commitment to maintaining doctrinal clarity and safeguarding Christian teaching from superstition and excess. ‘The Cross does not need 738 meters of steel or concrete to be recognized: It is raised every time a heart, moved by grace, opens itself to forgiveness,’ the text from the doctrinal office said.
Dozulé, located in the Normandy region of northern France, had a population of 2,279 people in 2022. The town’s history, marked by the controversial claims, has sparked renewed interest and discussion within religious and academic circles. Father Patrick Mary Briscoe, a Dominican friar based in Rome, noted that while the messages inspired curiosity in some circles, they were never embraced by the wider Church. ‘The Church plainly teaches that the cross of Christ is the summit of revelation,’ he said, highlighting the Church’s focus on sacraments and the truth of the Gospel.
Pope Leo XIV’s approval of this declaration signifies the Church’s serious approach to discernment in spiritual matters. Briscoe stated that this decision reflects Pope Leo’s intention to engage with the scientific age, as seen in his recent comments on compulsive gambling and internet addiction. ‘It’s clear that Pope Leo intends to speak directly to our scientific age,’ Briscoe remarked, emphasizing the need to anchor faith in truth rather than emotion or speculation.
The Vatican’s discernment in this matter is not about dismissing devotion but protecting believers from confusion. ‘The Vatican isn’t closing the door on devotion. Instead, Pope Leo is keeping the focus where it belongs — on Christ,’ Briscoe explained. The decision to reject the supernatural claims is part of a broader effort to ensure that religious practices are grounded in authentic faith and doctrinal truth, providing clarity for believers and reinforcing the Church’s stance on spiritual discernment.