Statue 'becomes human'
2005-07-27 11:13
Italy - Scores of Catholic faithful have been heading for a church in a small town near Naples to pray in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary which some claim to have seen move and take on human form.
The small San Pietro church in Acerra had to be closed for much of the day on Tuesday to allow police and Church officials to inspect the statue as news of the alleged "miracle" spread.
Witnesses say they have seen the Madonna turn into a skin-like pink colour. Others claim to have seen her legs and other parts of the body move.
"She moved twice yesterday, at 12 and at eight in the evening," Francesco Barbetta, a civil protection volunteer standing in front of the church was quoted as saying by the Adnkronos news agency.
The parish priest, Don Oreste, says he hasn't seen anything while the local bishop has expressed scepticism.
The Vatican is traditionally cautious when it comes to miracles and has approved just a dozen as "genuine" over the past 100 years. - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA