Scientific analysis conducted in 1971 confirmed the relics consist of human cardiac muscle tissue.
The blood type found in the relics is AB, which is the same type found on the Shroud of Turin.
The blood remnants exhibit the same physical properties as fresh blood despite being nearly 1,300 years old.
The miracle reportedly occurred during the 8th century when a Basilian monk experienced doubt about the Real Presence during Mass.
The relics were kept in an ivory chalice and a glass case since the 18th century.
Pope Pius X granted a plenary indulgence to visitors of the sanctuary in 1906.
The Santuario del Miracolo Eucaristico in Lanciano houses the oldest recorded Eucharistic miracle, dating back to the 8th century. The site preserves what are identified by the Catholic Church as physical remnants of human heart tissue and clotted blood. These relics are contained within a monstrance and an ivory chalice housed in a 17th-century sanctuary. The current church, the Church of San Francesco, was built over the original 8th-century structure. Extensive scientific investigations, including studies by the World Health Organization in the 1970s, identified the relics as myocardial tissue and human blood type AB. The sanctuary serves as a major pilgrimage destination for Catholics globally. The relics are displayed above the main altar for public veneration.
The exterior facade of the Church of San Francesco, which captures the traditional stone architecture of the region.
Visit during the weekday mornings to avoid large organized tour groups.
Spend time in the lower crypt area to view the historical foundations of the original church.
Maintain complete silence while in the sanctuary, as it is an active place of prayer.
Avoid visiting in groups larger than 10 without prior coordination with the sanctuary office.
Modest dress is strictly required; shoulders and knees must be covered. Silence is mandatory inside the sanctuary.
