Chilling truth of Virgin Mary statue weeping tears of blood 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. But now, the mystery has taken a dramatic turn, with scientific tests suggesting a far less divine explanation.

Since 2016, the effigy known as the Madonna di Trevignano has drawn thousands of worshippers. Its custodian, Gisella Cardia, claimed the statue not only cried tears of blood but also delivered her messages and visions.

On the third day of every month, visitors would gather on a hillside shrine where the figure sat encased in blue glass, listening to prophecies and, at times, sharing in what were described as miraculous feasts.

Cardia even alleged the Madonna once multiplied portions of pizza, gnocchi and rabbit to feed more than a dozen people - a claim that only deepened the fervour of believers.

The statue itself had humble beginnings. Cardia purchased it during a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a town famed for reports of apparitions.

But soon after, she insisted, the image began to manifest supernatural signs - above all, streams of blood-like liquid running from its eyes. To many faithful, this was proof of divine intervention.

Questions over authenticity never went away. Some locals whispered that pig's blood was being used to stage the effect, while others accused Cardia of exploiting belief for personal gain.

Tensions reached a breaking point two years ago, when residents hired a private investigator to dig into her claims. That probe eventually led prosecutors and the Italian military police to intervene.

In February of 2025, the case reached a pivotal moment. According to Italian daily Corriere della Sera, DNA analysis of the red fluid has revealed a startling match - not with animals, but with Cardia herself. The report suggests the liquid was her own blood, casting fresh doubt on years of supposed miracles.

Lead investigator Achille Cohen-Tavor called it "a breakthrough in separating faith from fraud," though he stopped short of declaring the case closed. For prosecutors, the results provide crucial evidence in ongoing proceedings, which have already seen Cardia accused of fraud after accepting donations she claimed would fund a centre for sick children.

The Vatican, meanwhile, had already distanced itself. In a rare decree last year, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith reviewed findings from the local Diocese of Civita Castellana and concluded there was nothing supernatural about the Madonna di Trevignano.

The statement urged calm among the faithful, stressing that true devotion should not be tied to unverified phenomena.

Yet Cardia's defence team remains defiant. Her lawyer, Solange Marchignoli, insists the DNA analysis does not necessarily disprove her client's testimony.

"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 argued that frequent handling, kissing and prayers at the statue could have easily left traces of Cardia's blood.

The case has gripped Italy, where reports claim Cardia has fled her home in Trevignano and vanished from public view, and even her lawyer says she has lost contact.

The Catholic Church has long wrestled with alleged apparitions and miraculous claims. Some, like those at Lourdes or Fatima, have been formally recognised. Many more, however, have been dismissed after failing to withstand scrutiny.