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The Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith confirmed a local diocesan investigation decreeing that there is no “supernatural character” to the “apparitions of Trevignano Romano,” a town close to Rome, in a statement published on June 27, 2024. This ruling is the first under the new standards for investigating supernatural phenomena, in force since last May.
Since 2016 in Trevignano Romano, on the shores of Lake Bracciano, north of Rome, an alleged visionary, Gisella Cardia - whose real name is Maria Giuseppa Scarpulla - has been gathering hundreds of devotees around her. On the 3rd of every month they come to a hill in the Italian countryside for an alleged Marian “apparition.”
Suspected of fraud, among other things, along with her husband Gianni Cardia, this Italian woman has made headlines in recent months, especially for alleging to have witnessed a “multiplication of gnocchi,” or by openly defying ecclesiastical authorities.
In a statement, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith (DDF) confirmed the validity of the decree issued by Bishop Marco Salvi of Civita Castellana - where Trevignano is located - on March 6. This decree had stated the "non-supernaturality" (non supernaturalitate) of the phenomenon, meaning the situation in question does not have a supernatural dimension.
The Dicastery, headed by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, also supported the provisions taken by the Italian bishop, who forbade priests to preside over celebrations at the site of the false apparitions. He also asked the faithful to refrain from participating in events surrounding this phenomenon.
The new norms in action
In taking this public stance, the DDF is applying the new norms issued on May 17 for the study of supernatural phenomena in the Catholic Church - apparitions, revelations, and so on. This document provides bishops worldwide with a strict procedure for discerning supposedly mystical phenomena occurring in their dioceses.
Above all, the bishops are asked to forward their opinions to Rome. It is then up to the DDF, which has the power to intervene "at any moment and stage of the discernment regarding alleged supernatural phenomena," to give a final approval.
This is a new course of action: Previously, the Dicastery took part in the checks, but did not appear publicly in the decisions that were given out at diocesan level.
In April 2023, Bishop Salvi had launched an investigation into the situation at Trevignano. A commission of theologians, canonists, and psychologists delivered its initial conclusions on May 30, and its final report in January 2024.
During the investigation, Gisella Cardia underwent a psychological examination with a team of five experts. The commission of inquiry established "contradictions" in her testimony, highlighted "inconsistency" between her statements and those of her husband, Gianni, or others involved, and concluded that Cardia was "unreliable."
The experts also noted "numerous theological errors" in the messages shared by the alleged visionary.
