St. Gennaro's Solid Blood Liquefies During Pope Francis' Visit To Naples Cathedral

IN PHOTO: Pope Francis blesses the faithful with the vial of what local Roman Catholics believe is the blood of Saint Gennaro at a meeting with members of the clergy in the Duomo during his pastoral visit in Naples March 21, 2015. The archbishop of Naples claimed on Saturday that the dried blood of the city's patron saint began to turn liquid in an ampoule on Saturday while Pope Francis was in the cathedral where the relic is stored. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

Pope Francis is said to be the latest miracle worker in the Catholic Church. The Vatican reported witnesses cried after seeing the Pope liquefy the solid blood of St. Gennaro during his mass in Naples, Italy.

According to The Vatican Insider, St. Gennaro's blood, which is usually in its solid state inside its vial, has never liquefied before during any papal visit. However, it was different during Pope Francis' Naples Cathedral mass held on March 21. Described as a "miracle" by writer Giacomo Galeazzi, he claimed the blood turned liquid after Pope Francis had kissed its vial.

"As a sign that St. Januarius loves the pope, who is Neapolitan like us, the blood is already half liquefied," announced Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe after Pope Francis blessed the congregation holding the vial. Galeazzi said the Cardinal's announcement was followed by a long applause from the congregation but then Pope Francis took the microphone and replied, "If only half of it liquefied that means we still have work to do; we have to do better. We have only half of the saint's love." St. Gennaro's blood reportedly continued to liquefy until the entire contents of the vial had turned to liquid, much to the amazement of the congregation, who according to Galeazzi cried out when they witnessed the "phenomenon."

St. Gennaro's blood is said to be the most precious relic in Naples. According to The National Catholic Reporter, the people of Naples would await for the blood to liquefy three times a year during celebrations, including the Sept. 19 feast day for St. Gennaro, during a local feast on Dec. 19 and in the spring when the town commemorates the transfer of the relic to Naples. However, relic custodian Msgr Vincenzo de Gregorio said the blood never turns liquid on any other day aside from the feast day.

The Catholic Herald added that the last time St. Gennaro's solid blood turned to liquid in its vial was in 1848. It reportedly last liquefied when Pius IX visited Naples Cathedral. It didn't turn liquid when St. John Paul II visited in 1979 and when Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2007.

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Farah Aakash