The blood vial of the pontiff John Paul II (Papa Giovanni Paolo II), which was stolen last week from the temple where he was stored, was discovered yesterday by Italian carabinieri.
A unique relic was found in a garage owned by a local drug addict. It was he and his two accomplices who stole the reliquary from St. Peter's Church in the city of Aquila a few days ago. The metal part and the crucifix from a stolen item were found in a rehabilitation center for drug addicts, Rai News reports.
A few days after the disappearance, the carabinieri went on the trail of the alleged criminals: three young people who were treated in the above clinic.
Thieves later admitted that they had stolen the relic for the purpose of selling, but they had no idea what fell into their hands.
Drug addicts told police that they had thrown out a small piece of the blood-soaked pontiff’s clothing that he was wearing when he was assassinated in 1981.
The ministers of St. Peter's Church reported the disappearance of a valuable relic shortly after a flagrant robbery. About fifty police officers were involved in the search and capture of criminals, and specially trained dogs were involved. However, the Carabinieri could not even think that ordinary drug addicts would be thieves. According to investigators, initially they believed that the theft of the blood vial from the late Pope was custom-made, as the alms box remained untouched. They also assumed that Satanists could steal a relic in order to perform a special ritual.
The rector of St. Peter's Church, Giovanni D'Ercolle, who is also an assistant to the bishop of Aquila, told reporters that the valuable vessel with the blood of the Pope and the reliquary has already been connected and returned to their place. He also assured reporters that he was sure: the late pontiff had already forgiven his offenders.
It is no accident that the blood of John and a piece of his robe are stored in this church: the Pope loved to ski near Aquila, and once he took refuge from a storm in St. Peter's Church.
The construction of John Paul II in the face of saints
In mid-spring, namely April 26, 2014, the current head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, will hold a special solemn ceremony of elevating John Paul II to the face of saints. The Vatican press service said that about half a million pilgrims who will arrive from different parts of the world will be present at this event.
John Paul, who became the first Pope of non-Italian descent, was the main clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005.
The process of beatification (reckoning among the blessed ones) was begun a month after the pontiff’s funeral. The decision to classify him as a saint was made three years ago by the current Pope Benedict, who issued a decree that 264 in a row the pontiff created a real miracle - he healed the woman from Parkinson's disease.
