Samoa will soon find out if a woman claiming to be carrying the marks of Jesus Christ’s suffering is genuine.
Toaipuapua Opapo Patrick, the woman claiming to have stigmata, is in Rome where the phenomenon is being examined by officials of the Church.
The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, La’aulialemalietoa Polataivao Fosi accompanied Toa to Rome a few weeks ago.
“Her claims have been put through the process at the Vatican,” La’auli told the Samoa Observer.
“The church has its own jurisdiction in terms of investigating these matters. It doesn’t happen to one country it is happening around the world but it’s the first case for the Pacific.”
La’auli said Toa, her husband, Patrick and her father, Rev. Opapo Oeti have settled into an apartment in Rome while the investigation continues .
According to La’auli, his duty was to accompany Toa as a government official to assist her in Rome.
“It coincided with a meeting I attended for F.A.O in Rome,” he said.
During a recent interview with the Savali Newspaper, prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, expressed support for Toa’s trip.
“I have been asked to help with the translation of the writings in Hebrew, done during the revelation to Ms Toaipuapuaga.
One such occurrence happened in front of my own eyes,” he said.
“As leader of the country it is logical that people in need should seek the help of their leader.
“This supernatural event has happened in Samoa. Not in New Zealand, Australia or any other Christian Pacific Islands.”
“To me it is a special divine blessing for Samoa and we Samoan Christians should thank the Lord for His choice of Ms Toaipuapuaga for His mission and a thumbs up for the Pastor of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa for his daughter and for the first ever CCCS stigmata that I know of to have happened to a member of the Protestant faith,” said Tuilaepa.
Source
