Thousands of pilgrims from Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world arrived in the southern town of Medjugorje on Friday to mark the 40th anniversary of the alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

Local Catholics make up the majority of visitors, but there are also organized groups of pilgrims from Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain, France, Ireland, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, China and other world countries.

In 1981, six local children claimed that they witnessed an apparition of Virgin Mary in the town which has since then become a major pilgrimage site for Catholics across the world. The Vatican has never officially recognized the apparition but Pope Francis said it was a place “where people go and find God.”

Although a commission set up to examine Medjugorje voted in favor of confirming the Medjugorje apparition in May 2017, the Pope has yet to pass a final decision.