Pope John Paul II, the stolen relics of the Spoleto cathedral

The vial that contained a few drops of blood from Karol Wojtyla was stolen from Spoleto Cathedral, as revealed by the site Vatican News. “A serious act that hurts the sensitivity and devotion of many people,” said the Archbishop of Spoleto-Norcia, Renato Boccardo. The prelate has requested the return of the “ex sanguine” relic of Saint John Paul II (May 8, 1920, Wadowice, Poland – April 2, 2005, Vatican City) that was preserved and venerated in the Chapel of the Crucifix of the Cathedral. It was the sacristan who noticed the theft on Wednesday night when the church was closed. The Carabinieri of Spoleto are conducting the investigations, also seeing the images of the surveillance system.

The appeal: “This is not how you get publicity”

Monsignor Boccardo, upon hearing the news, interpreted the feelings of the faithful and in a short video message (here on YouTube) explained how the theft is “a serious act that hurts the sensitivity and devotion of many people.” “We learned with surprise and pain from the robbery. It is a serious act, because it naturally hurts the sensitivity and devotion of many, and shows a lack of respect for the feelings of those who in recent years, almost on pilgrimage, have come to the hermitage to entrust joys and pains to the intercession of the pontiff. “I want to hope – he added – that it is” an act of superficiality, performed not with the intention of offending the sensibilities of the faithful. I also want to hope that this reckless gesture was not made for profit, unfortunately we know that this also happens, “he clarified, exhorting” the faithful to continue to trust the Pope. “Finally, an appeal to those responsible:” Return the relic, it is a gesture of responsibility and seriousness. It is not doing such operations that you get publicity or success. Only by respecting each other’s life and orientation can we build a peaceful home for everyone. ”

The history of the relic

The stolen relic of Saint John Paul II, an ampoule with drops of blood embedded in a gold locket, had been donated to the Church of Spoleto-Norcia on September 28, 2016 by then Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz. It would move to the new church of San Nicolò, in Spoleto, named after the Polish Pope, on the occasion of the consecration on October 22.

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This is not the first time that the relics of John Paul II have been stolen. In April 2019, Ceneselli stole a relic with the saint’s blood, in the province of Rovigo, from the Church of the Annunciation of María Santísima. The relic had been placed on the altar, in the wooden statue representing the Polish pontiff.