Vatican: Bones in our cemetery too old to be missing girl's
Posted July 28, 2019 7:00 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Holy See says hundreds of bones found in an underground repository near a Vatican cemetery are too old to be from a 15-year-old girl who disappeared in 1983.
The Vatican said Sunday that examinations of the bones and thousands of bone fragments determined that all dated from before the 20th century.
The remains were found under a stone slab after the family of Emanuela Orlandi requested to have the 19th-century Teutonic cemetery tomb of a princess opened based on a tip.
The Vatican says its outside expert has rejected a family request for laboratory testing of some 70 bones from the underground cache because they're "very ancient."
Emanuela, the daughter of a Vatican employee who lived in Vatican City, disappeared after a music lesson in Rome.
Reanta Grattani, who claims to be a friend of the Ornaldi family, wears a t-shirt bearing the pictures of Emanuela Orlandi and Pope Francis and a writing reading: I'm watching you from the sky, but you (referring to Pope Francis) please let them return my mortal remains to my mother, as they gather outside the Vatican, Saturday, July 20, 2019. The mystery of the 1983 disappearance of the 15-year-old Emanuela Orlando, daughter of a Vatican employee, took yet another twist Saturday as the Vatican formally opened two ossuaries discovered under a stone slab. The boxes of bones were found after the Vatican opened the tombs of two 19th-century German princesses in the cemetery of the Pontifical Teutonic College in hopes of finding the remains of Emanuela Orlandi. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Reanta Grattani, who claims to be a friend of the Orlandi family, center, holds a t-shirt with the pictures of Emanuela Orlandi and Pope Francis and a writing reading: I'm watching you from the sky, but you (referring to Pope Francis) please let them return my mortal remains to my mother, as she gathers with Cinzia Di Florio, left, holding a picture of Emanuela reading: Missing, and Sandro Masetti wearing a ti-shirt with a picture of Emanuela reading: The Truth will set you free, outside the Vatican, Saturday, July 20, 2019. The mystery of the 1983 disappearance of the 15-year-old Emanuela Orlando, daughter of a Vatican employee, took yet another twist Saturday as the Vatican formally opened two ossuaries discovered under a stone slab. The boxes of bones were found after the Vatican opened the tombs of two 19th-century German princesses in the cemetery of the Pontifical Teutonic College in hopes of finding the remains of Emanuela Orlandi. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, May 27, 2012 file photo, people hold pictures of Emanuela Orlandi reading, "march for truth and justice for Emanuela" in St. Peter's square, at the Vatican. An expert for the family of a Vatican teenager who went missing in 1983 says there are thousands of bones in an underground space near a Vatican cemetery. Giorgio Portera, engaged by Emanuela Orlandiâs family, said the extent of the cache emerged Saturday when Vatican-appointed experts began cataloguing the remains discovered on July 13. Portera said skulls and bones appear to belong to dozens of individuals. The Vatican made no mention of the number but said analyses would resume on July 27. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis recites the Angelus prayer from the window (second from right, top floor) of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, July 28, 2019. Francis on Sunday bowed his head in silent prayer for the migrants, perhaps as many as 150, who perished last week in shipwrecks of smugglerâs boats near the Libyan coast. He invited faithful in St. Peterâs Square to join him in praying for the victims and their families. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis reads his message from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, July 28, 2019. Francis on Sunday bowed his head in silent prayer for the migrants, perhaps as many as 150, who perished last week in shipwrecks of smugglerâs boats near the Libyan coast. He invited faithful in St. Peterâs Square to join him in praying for the victims and their families. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.