Italian 'miracle' debunked - Vatican declares Trevignano Romano's bleeding Madonna statue a fraud

A Marian statue in Italy that was reported to have shed tears of blood has been declared a hoax by the Vatican following an investigation.

The strange false claim sparked controversy as deceived pilgrims gathered to witness the supposed miracle. Gisella Cardia, the owner of the statue, claimed that the Madonna effigy had been crying blood since 2016.

She also stated that it gave her private revelations and she served seemingly endless gnocchi and rabbit to the visitors of the site.

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Her claims began after she purchased the carving in Medjugorje and brought it to her hometown Trevignano Romano, just north of Rome. As the claims gained widespread attention and national fame, a makeshift shrine was set up around the statue in a field.

Known as the famous Madonna di Trevignano, a large number of devotees would visit on the third day of every month to pray the rosary, venerate the statue, make confessions, and hear the latest of Cardia's revelations.

However, last year, skeptical locals hired a private investigator, who met with the Italian military police, and according to reports he presented evidence suggesting that the liquid on the statue was pig's blood.

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Now Catholic church leaders have ruled that the supernatural phenomenon was false, having it officially confirmed by the Vatican.

Their Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its first decree according to a new set of norms for vetting alleged Marian apparitions and spiritual phenomena.

The Diocese of Civita Castellana's preliminary probe into the statue incident found nothing otherworldly, backing up their position with a clear statement.

Their declaration made it plain: "It is clear that it is not supernatural."

They added a prayerful wish: "May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mother of the Church and our Mother, restore peace and serenity in view of the spiritual good of the faithful of the parish of Trevignano Romano and of the people of God who are throughout the Diocese of Civita Castellana."

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