"Statue of Virgin Mary Shedding Blood Tears, Actually Pig's Blood" Controversy in Italy

Believers Gather Every 3rd to See Weeping Virgin Mary Statue
Witness Claiming 'Weeping Blood' Disappears as Investigation Begins

A woman in Italy who attracted pilgrims with a 'Virgin Mary statue shedding bloody tears' suddenly disappeared amid a 'fabrication controversy.'

According to the British daily The Guardian on the 11th (local time), Scarpulla, a native of Sicily known as 'the Saint,' claimed that the Virgin Mary statue was shedding bloody tears and giving her messages when she brought the statue from Medjugorje, a famous pilgrimage site in Bosnia known for 'Virgin apparitions,' back to Italy in 2016.

As rumors about the 'bloody tears Virgin Mary statue' spread, Catholic believers flocked every month on the 3rd to a park overlooking Lake Bracciano near Rome, Italy, to see the statue and hear messages from the Virgin Mary through Scarpulla. Most pilgrims came with desperate hopes of curing serious illnesses.

Statue of the Virgin Mary in Međugorje, Bosnia.
Photo by EPA·Yonhap News

Due to the growing media attention and local residents' complaints caused by the monthly influx of pilgrims, Catholic Bishop Marco Salvi, who oversees the area, announced last month that he would investigate the statue.

However, on the 3rd, about 300 pilgrims from all over Italy gathered in front of the bloody tears Virgin Mary statue to pray as usual. Scarpulla claimed to have received new messages from the Virgin Mary in front of them. Although Scarpulla has a past record of bankruptcy fraud, it is known that she purchased land in the park with donations received under the pretense of helping sick children.

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Meanwhile, on the 5th, a claim arose that the bloody tears of the Virgin Mary statue were actually pig’s blood. Private detective Andrea Cacioti, who made this claim, said, "Too many people feel they have been deceived," and reported Scarpulla to the local police and prosecutors.

A man who donated 123,000 euros (about 170 million won) to Scarpulla said, "Both my wife and I were sick, and we believed her."

The authenticity of the claim that the bloody tears were pig’s blood has not yet been confirmed, but local media reported that the regional prosecutors began an investigation on the 11th.

Scarpulla is known to have already left her residence on the 6th. A message on the website she operates states that "meetings with believers are temporarily suspended."

Amid lingering doubts surrounding the truth of the bloody tears, rumors about Scarpulla’s whereabouts are rampant, including that she has 'left the country,' 'returned to her hometown Sicily,' or 'fled to a monastery.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.