Vatican academy will probe 'mystical phenomena' around the world

2023-04-15

Vatican academy will probe ‘mystical phenomena’ around the world including ‘weeping’ statues of Mary, stigmata and ghost sightings under plans to set up new observatory

Pontifical Mariana International Academy says there are scores of cases to probe
The Holy See institution will offer insights into cases such as a ‘weeping’ Mary

A Vatican academy is set to investigate ‘mystical phenomena’ around the world including ‘weeping’ statues of the Virgin Mary, stigmata and ghost sightings under plans for a new dedicated observatory.

The Pontifical Mariana International Academy (PAMI), which describes itself as a scientific institution of the Holy See, will hope to uncover ‘around a hundred ongoing phenomena’ in Italy alone.

The specialist observatory, which is still awaiting authenticity by the Church, will ‘evaluate and study apparitions and mystical phenomena’ across the globe, Vatican News reports.

It will delve into ghost sightings, interior locutions and stigmata – which believers see as bodily marks, scars or pains corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ.

Speaking about the launch of the new Observatory Scientific Committee, Mariologist Father Gian Matteo Roggio told local Italian media: ‘In Italy there are around a hundred ongoing phenomena that the Church is following closely.

The Pontifical Mariana International Academy (PAMI), which describes itself as a scientific institution of the Holy See, will hope to uncover ‘around a hundred ongoing phenomena’ in Italy alone. Pictured: St Peter’s Square, Vatican City

‘Many of these are local and restricted in scope, not all of them receive attention from the media and the general public.’

PAMI, which will begin its first session on Saturday, had been keeping its eye on a curious case involving a weeping Mary statue in Trevignano, near Rome.

It involved an Italian woman facing an investigation for fraud after claiming her Virgin Mary statue could cry tears of blood and multiply gnocchi and pizza.

Thousands flocked to see Gisella Cardia’s predictions after her statue of Our Lady of Trevignano Romano began weeping blood.

Followers believed she brought messages from Mary and some said she’d even predicted the COVID pandemic.

But Cardia, 53, has been exposed as a fraud after church investigators discovered the blood her statue wept was not holy and actually came from a pig, according to local media.

Officials believe she has now fled after fleecing her followers with tens of thousands of Euros in donations.

PAMI’s new observatory is also set to introduce local scientific committees in order to create a larger network for more probes.

PAMI, which will begin its first session on Saturday, had been keeping its eye on a curious case involving a weeping Mary statue (pictured) in Trevignano, near Rome

Gisella Cardia (pictured), 53, has been exposed as a fraud after church investigators discovered the blood her statue wept was not holy and actually came from a pig

Father Stefano Cecchin, part of the committee explained: ‘The purpose of the Observatory [is] to activate national and international commissions to evaluate and study apparitions and mystical phenomena reported in various areas of the world.

He added: ‘[It will] promote updating and training activities on this type of events and their multiple spiritual and cultural meanings, promote high dissemination and consultancy activities, especially at the service of local Churches and bishops, but also trans-disciplinary research activities in concert with academic institutions, both lay and ecclesiastical, and the publication of the results of the researches carried out.’

Fellow committee member Father Roggio has previously spoken on the topic of mystical phenomena, notably in 2021 when he revealed that demand for exorcisms boomed during the pandemic.

The Catholic priest told The Telegraph at the time: ‘We have seen an increase in the request for exorcisms because the pandemic has made people more vulnerable to the idea that Satan or some evil entity has taken over their lives.

‘People have fallen into poverty; they found themselves suffering from anxiety and depression. They feel that their lives are no longer in their own hands but in the hands of a malign force. It’s a big crisis.’

He was speaking at a six-day international conference where more than 100 priests and bishops from around the world gathered in Rome to attend the world’s only recognised course on exorcism.

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