Reports of divine visions at G.S. Rwinzovu school in Gataraga Sector of Musanze District have sparked a debate across Rwanda this week, prompting response from Catholic Church leadership.

The claims which began circulating on Friday, January 16 suggested that apparitions of the Virgin Mary had occurred to two 10-year-old children (a boy and a girl) in an area located near the school.

"The incident drew an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 people on Saturday, with attendance growing to over 2,000 visitors from across the country the following day,” said Abbé Jean Bosco Nambaje, the Parish Priest of Busogo.

VIDEO: Kibeho: The shrine of apparitions and pilgrimages

Church officials have categorised the events as a "mistaken perception” rather than a spiritual miracle, stating that the claims are currently unfounded.

"The situation was contradictory: while some claimed to see the Virgin Mary, others insisted they saw nothing at all.” Priest Nambaje stated.

Father Vedaste Kayisabe, the Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda (CEPR), explained that while Rwanda has a respected history of the Kibeho apparitions, the recent incident does not meet the criteria for divine intervention.

ALSO READ: Over 100,000 pilgrims flood Kibeho to mark Assumption Day

He attributed the reports to a mixture of individual confusion and natural phenomena.

"Some individuals claimed to have seen the image of the Virgin Mary embedded in a cut tree branch,” he said, adding that natural patterns in wood can resemble human faces.

"If you look at a knot in a branch with a specific expectation, your mind will often see what it wants to see,” he added.

To maintain order among the faithful, the Parish Priest Nambaje issued a formal communiqué on Sunday, urging Christians to remain calm and warning against spreading rumours that could incite fear or confusion.

He highlighted that the foundation of the Catholic faith remains rooted in sacred scripture and established church teachings, rather than unverified reports.

This incident has highlighted rigorous process for verifying claims of apparitions.

"The church does not rush to judgment," Kayisabe said.

He reminded the public that the famous Kibeho apparitions, which began in 1981, were not officially recognised until 2001. That twenty-year period was essential to ensure the messages aligned with objective reality and historical events. Alleged apparitions are verified and approved by the Vatican's Dicastery for Doctrine of the Faith.

The rigorous process of validating apparitions

The discernment process can take decades or even centuries.

According to Father Kayisabe, the verification process is not just spiritual but also medical and physical.

"In past investigations, the church has looked for ‘extraordinary’ physical signs, such as a state of ecstasy. Scientists and doctors have even used needles to test visionaries at sensitive points on the body because a person in a true spiritual trance remains completely unresponsive to pain, whereas someone faking it will flinch or cry out,” he said.

The church also discerns whether the alleged messages lead to positive behaviour and spiritual growth among the community.

In the Catholic Church, to evaluate a spiritual phenomenon, the local bishop appoints a commission of experts, including theologians, psychologists, and doctors, according to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In the past century, only nine cases were officially approved out of over 1,500 reported visions.

One of these apparitions occurre in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. The church officially recognized the Fatima events as "worthy of belief” in 1930. Our Lady of Fatima is the title given to the Virgin Mary in her six appearances before three peasant children near the village of Fatima.

Beyond the theological concerns, claims of apparitions raise safety and legal issues.

Father Kayisabe noted that such reports can draw large crowds very quickly, sometimes leading people to gather in places that may be risky.

He advised that in such cases, Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) can monitor the situation to ensure public order and to investigate those who might be exploiting the emotions of the faithful.

The church officials instructed believers to pray only in designated, authorised locations that ensure their security.