The Catholic Church has declared the appearance of an image of Jesus Christ on a ceremonial bread during a Holy Communion in India as a genuine miracle.

This extraordinary event took place over a decade ago in the southern Indian hills, when a mysterious face appeared on a Consecrated Host being raised by Father Thomas Pathicka.

Initially appearing as a peculiar stain, it gradually became more luminous and formed into what seemed to be the image of Christ himself. News spread and numerous visitors flocked to the church in Vilakkannur to worship beside what they believed to be a Eucharistic miracle.

The village was soon inundated with pilgrims, causing roads to become congested with vehicles and authorities were called in to ensure crowd safety.

Shortly after, the Catholic Church discreetly took possession of the host and initiated an investigation, both theological and scientific, in accordance with Vatican protocols,

Between 2018 and 2020, the host was returned for public veneration, with the decision to acknowledge the event as 'miraculous' only being made now, some 12 years post-incident.

The Vatican has officially recognised it as a bona fide miracle following Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry's visit to Vilakkannur to verify the 'miraculous' moment.

This declaration was communicated through Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, and was announced during a special mass.

This event joins a select list of rare and sacred phenomena in church history that are said to defy natural explanation, yet strengthen spiritual belief.

Most recorded Eucharistic miracles usually involve the Host 'bleeding', with scientific tests confirming the presence of human heart tissue and AB blood group.

However, in the Vilakkannur incident, there was no blood or tissue, just a face appearing on the bread itself.