A vial of blood from the patron saint of the Italian city of Naples transformed from its usual solid state into a liquid after a visit from Pope Francis, marking the first time since 1848 that this phenomenon occurred during the visit of a sitting pontiff.

The Catholic Herald is reporting that the blood of St. Januarius, which miraculously liquefies three times every year, partially liquefied after Pope Francis kissed the relic during a day trip to the city last week.

The blood of Januarius, a fourth century saint who was martyred during the Diocletion persecution, is kept in a sealed ampoule and traditionally liquefies on his feast day in September, on December 16, and on the first Sunday of May.

According to AFP, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe of Naples displayed the miracle to the congregation in the city’s cathedral, saying: “The blood has half liquefied, which shows that St Januarius loves our Pope and Naples.”

To this Pope Francis responded: “The bishop just announced that the blood half liquefied. We can see the saint only half loves us. We must all spread the word, so that he loves us more!”

The last time this miracle occurred was in the presence of Pope Pius IX in 1848. It did not occur when St. John Paul II visited Naples in 1979 or when Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI visited in 2007.

The Church has never made any official pronouncement about the miracle which has been occurring three times a year since at least 1389.

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