Vilakkannoor: In a historic declaration that has stirred the hearts of the faithful, the Vatican has officially recognized the Divine Mercy miracle that occurred at Christ the King Church in Vilakkannoor. This miraculous event, first witnessed on November 15, 2013, during a Holy Mass, involved the appearance of the Holy Face of Jesus on the Holy Eucharist—a phenomenon that has now been declared an extraordinary sign by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Following the initial incident, the Holy Eucharist was safeguarded and later sent to Rome in 2014 through the Vatican’s diplomatic channels for further theological and scientific examination. This step came under the direction of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which called for a thorough investigation to discern the authenticity of the phenomenon. After years of silence, Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplani reached out in August 2023 to Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria, president of the Vatican Congregation, requesting an update on the status of the case.
A response came in September 2023 via the Apostolic Nunciature in India, advising that additional scientific tests could be conducted within India, given the availability of appropriate facilities. Accordingly, the Holy Eucharist was brought back to Kerala from the Vatican Consulate in Delhi in January 2024 and entrusted to the Archdiocese of Thalassery for further study.
Under the guidance of the Vishwasthiri Sangham, an ecclesiastical and scientific advisory body, a comprehensive investigation was initiated. The Eucharist was taken to Christ University in Bangalore, a premier academic institution with advanced laboratory infrastructure. A team of esteemed experts—including chemists, forensic professionals, and theologians—was assembled to carry out specialized studies. These included Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, and Mass Spectrometry, to ensure that no foreign substances had influenced the appearance on the Eucharist.
The outcome of these investigations was profound. Scientific tests confirmed that the image seen on the Holy Eucharist had formed naturally from the same material that comprises the rest of the host. There was no evidence of external interference or any artificial substances contributing to the appearance of the face of Jesus. This finding strengthened the belief that the phenomenon was not of human origin.
The full scientific and theological report was submitted to the Vatican in April 2024. After careful review of the evidence, the Vatican announced on March 19, 2025, that there were no doctrinal obstacles to recognizing the event in Vilakkannoor as an extraordinary Eucharistic miracle. The declaration, delivered officially through the Vatican's representative in India, has brought immense spiritual joy to the community and reaffirmed the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist as a profound vessel of divine mystery.
With this recognition, Christ the King Church in Vilakkannoor is poised to become a significant pilgrimage destination, drawing believers from around the world who seek to experience the grace of a Eucharistic miracle affirmed by the highest authority of the Catholic Church. The declaration also serves as a testament to the Church’s dedication to discern truth with both faith and reason, combining scientific rigor with spiritual insight.