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Church Position on Maria Valtorta: Clarifying What the DDF Did—and Did Not—Declare - Soul - 07-13-2026
Quote:DICASTERY FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
Press Release
Regarding the Writings of Maria Valtorta
The Holy See frequently receives requests from both clergy and laity for a clarification about the Church’s position on the writings of Maria Valtorta, such as her work, Il poema dell’Uomo Dio (The Poem of the Man-God), now known by the title, L’Evangelo come mi è stato rivelato (The Gospel as Revealed to Me), and other publications.
It should be reiterated that alleged “visions”, “revelations,” and “messages” contained in the writings of Maria Valtorta—or, in any case, attributed to them—cannot be regarded as having a supernatural origin. Rather, they should be considered simply as literary forms that the author used to narrate the life of Jesus Christ in her own way.
In its long tradition, the Church does not accept as normative the Apocryphal Gospels and other similar texts since it does not recognize them as divinely inspired. Instead, the Church refers back to the sure reading of the inspired Gospels.
Vatican City, 22 February 2025
At first glance, it may seem as though the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) were declaring Valtorta’s writings “not supernatural” or “not divinely inspired.” Yet among those who assume that interpretation, how many actually examine the wording, the canonical formulas, or the DDF’s documented practice before drawing that conclusion?
Most never look beyond the surface. But once the actual wording is examined, the picture changes: the DDF did not issue a declaration of non‑supernatural origin. Had they intended such a judgment, they would have used the canonical formula constat de non supernaturalitate — the precise wording the Church employs when formally ruling something not of supernatural origin.
This distinction matters because, in Church practice, classification depends entirely on the wording used. Constat de non supernaturalitate is the Church’s only juridically recognized way of declaring that a phenomenon is not of supernatural origin. When that formula is absent, the Church is not issuing such a judgment. And in the 2025 statement on Valtorta, the DDF deliberately chose different language, placing the document in a different category of ecclesial communication.
The Catechism provides the Church’s doctrinal lens for interpreting private revelation. As CCC 67 teaches, “the role of private revelation is not to improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation, but to help live it more fully.” This means that when private revelation is authentic, it is inspired by God and serves a pastoral, devotional, and illuminative purpose — never a doctrinal or additive one. Authentic private revelation can deepen one’s grasp of the Gospel, enrich Christian life, and help the faithful live more profoundly the truths already contained in the deposit of faith. Yet it always remains non‑canonical, non‑normative, and fully subordinate to the definitive Revelation already given in Christ. This principle frames how works like Valtorta’s should be approached: with discernment, openness to genuine spiritual fruit, and fidelity to the Church’s doctrinal boundaries.
For a clear explanation of why this distinction is decisive — and why the 2025 statement does not amount to a declaration of non‑supernatural origin — I recommend reading Maria Valtorta and the 2025 Vatican Statement: Clarifying Myths, Facts & Supernatural Status. Anyone who genuinely wants to know what the Church actually said, rather than relying on assumptions or inherited conclusions, will find it illuminating.
Comprehensive Resources on Maria Valtorta’s Writings
The Major and Minor Works:
✧ The Poem of the Man-God (also known as The Gospel as Revealed to Me)
✧ The Notebooks (1943)
✧ The Notebooks (1944)
✧ The Notebooks (1945–1950)
✧ The Little Notebooks
✧ The Book of Azariah
✧ Lessons on the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans
A Substantial Body of Evidence Supporting a Supernatural Origin
✧ Prof. Emilio Matricciani and Dr. Liberato De Caro’s mathematical analysis
✧ Prof. Emilio Matricciani and Dr. Liberato De Caro’s ancient astronomical-meteorological analysis
✧ Jean Aulagnier’s archaeological-geographical analysis
✧ David J. Webster’s archaeological‑historical analysis
✧ The Valtorta Enigma
✧ A Summa and Encyclopedia to Maria Valtorta’s Extraordinary Work
✧ Reader testimonies regarding The Poem of the Man‑God
Selected Witness Reflections on Valtorta’s Writings
“The topic that has touched me the most from reading and investigating this information (The Poem of the Man-God) is learning about the person of Jesus, and seeing His absolute perfection in every aspect of His life, especially in His teachings and in all the interactions with the people around Him. He is perfect. […] the perfect actions and words of our Lord resound with a divine nature in Maria Valtorta’s writings.” — Thomas Dubé, Licensed Geologist/Hydrogeologist
Supplementary Reading / Websites / Apps
✧ The Current Juridic and Moral Value of the Index of Forbidden Books
✧ Scripture ↔ The Poem of the Man-God concordance
✧ Maria Valtorta Heritage Foundation
✧ Maria Valtorta Readers’ Group
✧ Bardstown
✧ Valtorta App
In light of these distinctions, the question of Valtorta’s writings calls for the discernment the Church herself models: careful attention to wording, fidelity to canonical categories, and a willingness to look beyond assumptions to what is actually stated. The 2025 DDF communication does not issue a declaration of non‑supernatural origin, and the substantial body of historical, scientific, and testimonial evidence invites deeper and more attentive consideration of the writings themselves. Whether one approaches Maria Valtorta out of curiosity, devotion, or scholarly interest, the task remains the same: to discern with clarity, charity, and fidelity to the Church, always seeking the light of Christ in whatever is true, good, and oriented toward Him.