Catholic church rejects Mumbai miracle

The Catholic Church in Mumbai has rejected claims of a miracle, after devotees on June 27 claimed of a dark patch resembling blood appearing on a portion of the Jesus Christ painting.

The incident in Saint Michael's Church in Mahim district attracted over 100,000 people who claimed they saw blood oozing out from the heart of Jesus in the picture.

The Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, later visited and ordered a scientific analysis of the painting.

In a church newsletter issued on Sunday, he confirmed, "The tests have now been conducted and it has been established that there are no traces of blood in the red rays emanating from the Heart of Jesus in this image of Divine Mercy."

He said he was at a loss to explain the phenomenon, but suggested that large crowds that day at the church, plus monsoon humidity, may have contributed.