The six outcomes, in the Dicastery's own terms, are: nihil obstat, where signs of the Holy Spirit are recognized "in the midst" of the experience and the bishop may promote devotion and pilgrimages; prae oculis habeatur, positive signs mixed with confusion that needs doctrinal clarification; curatur, serious critical elements but widespread fruits, so the bishop does not encourage the phenomenon; sub mandato, problems caused by people misusing an otherwise acceptable devotion; prohibetur et obstruatur, a public prohibition with catechesis explaining it; and declaratio de non supernaturalitate, a finding of fraud, fabrication, or mythomania. Only the Pope can authorize a declaration that something is supernatural, and the norms expect that to be rare.
Medjugorje is the first large case decided this way. On September 19, 2024, the Dicastery granted a nihil obstat to the spiritual experience connected with the reported apparitions, authorizing public devotion while stating that this "does not imply a declaration that they have a direct supernatural origin" and that the faithful are not obliged to believe. Calling Medjugorje "approved apparitions" is therefore wrong; "reported apparitions with a nihil obstat for devotion" is accurate.
The practical effect for pilgrims is small. Lourdes, Fátima, Guadalupe, Knock, and Champion, Wisconsin were judged by their bishops under the earlier procedure and remain approved. The existing page listing which Marian apparition sites are approved gives that list; this page explains the process behind any new case.