Diocese Determines Relic‘s Movement not Supernatural
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The โฃDiocese of Colorado Springs has concluded that โขtheโค recent โขmovement of a โrelicโค of Saint John Paul II is attributable to natural causes, definitively ruling out a supernatural explanation.The relic,a fragmentโฃ of โthe late Pope’s cassock,had drawn attention after โฃappearing to shift positions within it’s display case at the โขcathedral Basilicaโฃ of St.โ Mary on โOctober 9, 2024.
The incident sparked widespread interestโฃ andโฃ speculation, prompting an examination by diocesan officials. While the event initiallyโฃ raised questions about a โpossible miraculous occurrence, the โdiocese stated that a thorough examination of the โdisplay โขcase and surrounding habitatโข revealed factors โthat could account โforโค the movement. This determinationโ comes asโ the Catholic Church carefully vets claims โขof miracles, requiring rigorous investigation and evidence beforeโ attributing events toโค divineโค intervention.
According to a statement released byโค the โคdiocese on October 11, 2024, theโ movement was likely โฃcaused by vibrations fromโ nearby construction and subtleโค shiftsโ inโฃ the building’s foundation. “After carefulโค consideration and investigation, weโฃ have persistent that the movement of the relic can be explained by naturalโข causes,” the statement read. โ”Thereโ is no indication of any supernatural intervention.”
Theโ relic of Saint John โpaulโฃ II โwas first โplaced on display at theโค Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary on September 28, 2024, as part of a nationwide tour organized by โฃthe Knights of Columbus.โฃ the tour aims toโข provide Catholics acrossโ the United States with an opportunity to venerate itemsโข associatedโค with the belovedโ Pope, who served โคfromโข 1978 to 2005.
Kate Quinones, a staff writer โfor the Catholic โNews Agency,โ reported on the โฃinitial observations โofโฃ the relic’s โฃmovement. โThe diocese emphasized that the investigation โwas conducted with reverence and respect for the relic and โthe faith of the faithful.โข Despite the non-supernatural explanation, โขthe relic continues to be aโ focal point โforโ prayer and devotion for many Catholics.
