After more than a decade of investigation, the Vatican has officially recognized the Eucharistic miracle that took place at Christ the King Church in Vilakkannoor, under the Archdiocese of Thalassery. The event, which reportedly revealed the face of Jesus on the consecrated Host during Mass, has now been affirmed as a legitimate Eucharistic miracle by the Holy See.

Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplani of Thalassery conveyed the Vatican’s decision to the faithful during a Holy Mass held at the Vilakkannoor Church. He explained that the Holy See found the miracle to be one that deepens the faith of the Church in the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist and has thus approved its veneration in accordance with Catholic doctrine.

According to the Archbishop, the Vatican has allowed the miraculous Host to be honored with the same reverence afforded to the Blessed Sacrament. However, he also reminded the congregation that the mystery of Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist is a foundational truth of the Catholic faith, not merely dependent on signs or miraculous occurrences.

A significant event to mark this recognition will take place at Vilakkannoor on Saturday, May 31 at 2:30 p.m., when Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio and representative of Pope Leo XIV in India, will preside over the Eucharistic celebration and officially proclaim the miracle on behalf of the Vatican.

The miraculous occurrence dates back to November 15, 2013, when Fr. Thomas Patikkal was celebrating Holy Mass. During the consecration, the face of Jesus reportedly appeared on the Host. Following Church protocol, the Host was transferred to the Archdiocese for safekeeping and observation. Remarkably, the Host remained unchanged for over four years, after which it was returned to Vilakkannoor in September 2018 for public veneration, continuing until January 2020.

The Syro-Malabar Church’s Theological Commission undertook a comprehensive study and determined that the event held strong theological grounds to be considered a Eucharistic miracle. Subsequently, in January 2020, the sacred Host was taken to Kakkanad, the headquarters of the Syro-Malabar Church, and presented to then Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro for further evaluation.

Now, with the Vatican’s official declaration, the faithful of Vilakkannoor and across the Syro-Malabar Church rejoice in the recognition of what they consider a powerful sign of Divine Mercy and a reaffirmation of the profound mystery of the Eucharist.