by Giacomo Galeazzi

This is the first time it happened. San Gennaro's blood had never liquefied during a papal visit to Naples before. None of the visits paid by Pius IX, John Paul II or Benedict XVI provoked the phenomenon. But the miracle was witnessed this afternoon, after Francis' heartfelt address to faithful and clergy.

The Pope had taken the vial with the blood of St. Gennaro - displayed on the altar - in his hands and kissed it. Cardinal Sepe said over the microphone: "It is the sign that St. Gennaro loves Pope Francis: half of the blood turned to liquid." The pronouncement was followed by a long applause from faithful. The Pope then 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." But the blood continued to liquefy until the whole relic had turned to liquid, with many faithful crying out as they witnessed this.

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Source: http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/