Padre Pio statue in Italian parish draws attention after appearing to weep blood
A statue of St. Padre Pio at an Italian parish is being investigated after appearing to shed blood.
Catholic TV network EWTN reported that a parishioner first noticed a reddish, blood-like tear flowing from the statue's left eye at Santa Maria delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) Parish in the town of Casalba in April.
Per the report, parish priest Father Girolamo Capuano inspected the statue and attempted to remove the stain but was unable to do so. He also confirmed that no tampering happened with the statue based on security camera footage, calling it “an authentic sign that comes from God."
“What convinces me the most is that we have a camera monitoring the statue day and night for more than 10 years. I have personally reviewed all the footage from April 1st to the 30th. The tear appeared on the 18th, or at least that was when we saw it. No one approached the statue, either by day or by night, to do anything to it," he said. "That reinforces my personal conviction and my faith in Padre Pio."
"The statue is made of fiberglass, and the reddish color of the tear raises questions," he continued, noting that the path of the tear "is so perfect that not even a painter like Michelangelo could reproduce something like it."
The image, which has been at the church entrance for about 20 years, has since been removed for examination.
In an interview with Mediaset Italia's Mattino Cinque, Capuano urged the public to remain prudent, saying that sharing information about the incident for fact-finding "does not stem from any desire for popularity." He also asked people to wait for the necessary verification.
For Capuano, these “signs” are meant to be shared with prudence, love, and discernment as they often inspire many people to begin their journey of faith.
