The Miraculous Cure of a Sarcoma of the Pelvis: Cure of Vittorio Micheli at Lourdes

Abstract

In April 1962, Vittorio Micheli, a soldier in the Italian Army, developed rapidly increasing pain in his left buttock region. X-rays of the left hip showed osteolysis involving the ilium and the roof of the acetabulum. A biopsy of the gluteal muscle showed cells of a sarcomatous character. He was not deemed to be a candidate for medical intervention, so neither radiotherapy nor chemotherapy was offered to him. In May 1963, racked with pain and unable to walk, he made a pilgrimage to Lourdes, following which he was cured of his sarcoma. His case was reviewed by the International Medical Committee of Lourdes in 1969 and in 1971. There was unanimous agreement that this was a medically inexplicable cure.