Daughters of Charity and the blood of John Paul II

Catholic News Service reports that the Daughters of Charity possess a small vial of Pope John Paul II’s blood drawn shortly before his death. The Vatican explained that four vials of blood were drawn from Pope John Paul during the final stage of his illness by his personal physician. The vials were sent to the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesu Hospital in Rome in case the ailing pope needed a transfusion, it said.

No transfusion was ever needed, and  two remained in the custody of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul at the hospital, the Vatican said.

The Vatican said the blood in all four vials has not solidified because an anti-coagulant had been added at the time the blood was drawn.