Virgin Mary statue weeping tears of blood as truth finally uncovered

For nearly a decade, pilgrims from across the globe trekked to a small Italian town to see what many believed was a miracle – a statue of the Virgin Mary shedding bloody tears.

For nearly 10 years, devout followers from around the world have flocked to a quaint Italian town, drawn by what many deemed a miracle – a statue of the Virgin Mary weeping bloody tears. However, recent scientific tests suggest a less heavenly explanation.

Since 2016, the effigy, known as the Madonna di Trevignano, has attracted thousands of worshippers. Its guardian, Gisella Cardia, asserted that the statue not only shed tears of blood but also conveyed messages and visions to her.

On the third day of each month, pilgrims would congregate at a hillside shrine where the figure was housed in blue glass, absorbing prophecies and occasionally partaking in what were described as miraculous feasts.

Cardia even claimed the Madonna once multiplied servings of pizza, gnocchi and rabbit to feed over a dozen people – an assertion that further fuelled the passion of believers.

The statue itself had modest origins. Cardia acquired it during a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a town renowned for reported apparitions, reports the Express.

Shortly after, she maintained, the image began to exhibit supernatural signs – most notably, rivulets of a blood-like substance flowing from its eyes. To many devotees, this was evidence of divine intervention.

Doubts about its authenticity persisted. Some locals murmured that pig’s blood was being used to simulate the effect, while others accused Cardia of capitalising on faith for personal profit.

Tensions hit boiling point two years back, when locals brought in a private detective to scrutinise her assertions.

That investigation ultimately prompted prosecutors and Italy’s military police to step in.

Come February 2025, the case hit a crucial turning point.

According to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, DNA testing of the crimson substance has uncovered a shocking discovery – it matches not animals, but Cardia herself.

The findings suggest the liquid was actually her own blood, throwing serious questions over years of alleged divine events.

Chief investigator Achille Cohen-Tavor described it as “a breakthrough in separating faith from fraud,” although he refrained from calling the matter resolved.

For prosecutors, these findings offer vital proof in continuing legal action, which has already seen Cardia charged with fraud following her acceptance of donations supposedly earmarked for a centre helping poorly children.

The Vatican, however, had already stepped back from the situation.

In an unusual ruling last year, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith examined evidence from the local Diocese of Civita Castellana and determined nothing otherworldly was occurring with the Madonna di Trevignano.

The declaration called for composure amongst believers, emphasising that genuine faith shouldn’t depend on unconfirmed occurrences.

Nevertheless, Cardia’s legal team stands firm.

Her solicitor, Solange Marchignoli, maintains the DNA findings don’t automatically invalidate her client’s account. “The stain warrants further investigation,” she said.

“If the profile is single, it would mean only Cardia’s blood is present, which could suggest fabrication. But if the profile is mixed, it raises other possibilities. Who can say what the Madonna’s DNA might be?”.

She contended that regular touching, kissing and devotional prayers at the statue could have readily deposited traces of Cardia’s blood.

The affair has captivated Italy, where reports suggest Cardia has abandoned her Trevignano home and disappeared from sight, with even her solicitor claiming to have lost all communication.

The Catholic Church has historically grappled with purported visions and miraculous phenomena. Whilst some, such as those at Lourdes or Fatima, have received official recognition, countless others have been rejected after proving unable to survive rigorous examination.