Blood taken from John Paul to be used as relic

Blood taken from Pope John Paul II during his final hospital stay will be used as the official relic for veneration after he is beatified. 

The viles contain blood taken from John Paul II shortly before he died.

The Vatican made the announcement yesterday, ending speculation over what relic would be presented during Sunday's beatification.

In a statement, the Vatican said four small vials of blood had been taken from John Paul during his final days for a possible transfusion, but were never used.

Two of the vials were given to John Paul's private secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, and another two remained at the Vatican's Bambin Gesu hospital in the care of nuns.

One of the hospital vials will be placed in a reliquary and presented on Sunday, while the other will remain with the nuns. John Paul died April 2, 2005.

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