Pope John Paul II's Blood Stolen: Rare Relic Stolen From Italian Church of San Pietro

Italian authorities have reported a crime after an ancient relic containing drops of the late Pope John Paul II's blood has gone missing from the Church of San Pietro della Ienca in central Italy. According to the police, who have already started an operation using sniffer dogs and dozens of officers, the thieves broke past protective iron bars and forced themselves into the church through the windows. The custodian at the church, Franca Corrier, found the crucifix and gold reliquary to be missing after noticing a shattered window at the church. The authorities have also added that the thieves may want the blood of the late Pope for satanic rites. Their speculation is rooted in the fact that the thieves left many other valuables behind in the church -- that could potentially be worth more -- and only stole the relic with the late Pope's blood.

Additionally, given the high-profile nature of the crime, coupled with the religious value of the product, the authorities believe that selling the product would be impossible. As such, the only possible use for the relic would be if it is used for satanic rites. "We are very displeased by the theft. We have no idea of who could have done it. The police are carrying out a search," said Franca Corrieri, a member of the association, speaking to the BBC. "This is an area that John Paul II visited often, with his secretary and not too many bodyguards. We feel very connected to him. After his death, his secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, came and told us that he wanted this church to become a sanctuary."

Incidentally, John Paul II is slated to become a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in April and it is being speculated that the value of the vile, one of three in the world, will peak after his sainthood. The missing vile was donated in 2011 to the church by John Paul’s secretary Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, according to the Independent. Pope John Paul II was pope for 27 years and died in 2005. The Polish pontiff has earned sainthood for leading the Catholic church from 1978 to 2005 and for curing a Costa Rican woman, Floribeth Mora, of a cerebral aneurysm in May 2011.