[Megamel29]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/natio...2014_partners5

A strange investigation is underway in Rome after a church was robbed Saturday. What did the thieves take? A relic containing a vial of blood from Pope John Paul II.

"The relic was at the church in the Abruzzo section in Italy, where the pope loved to go skiing. Dozens of police officers are on the case. They're using dogs to try to pick up a scent." (Via WNBC)

According to NBC, police believe the theft was probably commissioned because the only thing stolen was the one relic, with several other valuables left behind.

It's one of just three John Paul II relics containing his blood and is considered to be of great religious value. So why steal his blood? Well, this is where things get kind of creepy.

"Police think the people who took it will try to use it for satanic rites instead of trying to sell it." (Via KXAS)

International Business Times cited an Italian watchdog group that said the day the pope's blood was stolen corresponds with the dominium, or ownership, of the demon Valac.

Another theory — International Holocaust Remembrance day is Jan. 27, and the Times says for some, this marks the beginning of rituals in preparation for Satan's birthday Feb. 1. (Via History Channel)

As The Independent points out, in 2012 a relic of Pope John Paul II was stolen as a priest was traveling with it in a backpack

It contained blood from the late pope that was taken after an assassination attempt in 1981. Police later recovered that relic. (Via ABC)

Pope John Paul II died in 2005. He's set to be declared a saint in April.

[gatagato]

Also this one is a fragment of cloth soaked of blood, from the clothes he was wearing the day of his assassination attempt in 1981: it may also have been stolen to order, it's hard to tell right now.

[Megamel29]

Originally Posted by gatagato ↗

Also this one is a fragment of cloth soaked of blood, from the clothes he was wearing the day of his assassination attempt in 1981: it may also have been stolen to order, it's hard to tell right now.

It's crazy what some people will take. I wonder how secure the items were.

[gatagato]

Originally Posted by Megamel29 ↗

It's crazy what some people will take. I wonder how secure the items were.

There was zero security: no guards, no anti-theft systems, no security cameras. The easiest theft ever.

[Megamel29]

Wow. That's crazy.

[Shakey]

[Sharon]

I never put the words "Satan's" and "birthday" together before

[Megamel29]

Originally Posted by Sharon. ↗

I never put the words "Satan's" and "birthday" together before

What do you get for the ruler of Hades who has everything?

[Blewvane]

Originally Posted by Megamel29 ↗

What do you get for the ruler of Hades who has everything?

Zumba sticks?

[gatagato]

Update:
Iron frame of the reliquary found empty, two junkies arrested, Vial of Pope likely lost forever.

Search continues for cloth with blood of late pope
30/01/2014
Police find part of stolen reliquary of John Paul II

L'Aquila, January 30 - Police continued to hunt Thursday for cloth soaked with the blood of the late pope John Paul II that was stolen from a central Italian church at the weekend. Earlier in the day, police found the iron frame of the reliquary and arrested two people, but the important relic itself - the cloth with the former pope's blood - has not yet been recovered. The two who were arrested are suspected of being drug addicts and police are looking for a third addict, the sources said. The reliquary was taken along with a cross last weekend from the church of San Pietro della Ienca, located at the foot of the Gran Sasso mountain in central Italy, in Abruzzo region. The provincial commander of the paramilitary Carabinieri police, Savino Guarino, had said it was feared the thieves would dismantle the sacred object and throw parts away in the woods. Police have also suggested it may have been stolen on commission for a particular buyer. The church is located in an area where the charismatic Polish pontiff used to hike, ski and meditate. John Paul, who died in 2005 and is set to be made a saint at the end of April, enjoyed slipping out of the Vatican to the quiet and devout community in the Abruzzo region.

http://www.corriere.it/cronache/14_g...abaa7165.shtml