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• Pontifical Mariana International Academy says there are scores of cases to probe
• Holy See institution hope to uncover phenomena like ‘weeping’ statues of Mary
• There are several examples of Virgin Mary statues ‘weeping’ blood or tears

A Vatican academy is set to investigate ‘mystical phenomena’ around the world including ‘weeping’ statues of the Virgin Mary, stigmata and ghost sightings under plans for a new dedicated observatory.

The Pontifical Mariana International Academy (PAMI), which describes itself as a scientific institution of the Holy See, will hope to uncover ‘around a hundred ongoing phenomena’ in Italy alone.

“And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.” Revelation 13:14

The specialist observatory, which is still awaiting authenticity by the Church, will ‘evaluate and study apparitions and mystical phenomena’ across the globe, Vatican News reports.

It will delve into ghost sightings, interior locutions and stigmata – which believers see as bodily marks, scars or pains corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ.

On the launch of the new Observatory Scientific Committee, Mariologist Father Gian Matteo Roggio told local Italian media: ‘In Italy there are around a hundred ongoing phenomena that the Church is following closely.