Santi Taboada
Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis, Sandro to his friends, describes himself as the world's most useless doctor. Patients walk into his office yelling, “I'm cured!”
For 17 years, he had been the head of the medical office responsible for evaluating the alleged miraculous healing cases at Lourdes. He also serves as the shrine's resident physician.
That's how he got the nickname, “Miracle Doctor,” although he clarifies that performing miracles isn't his job.
ALESSANDRO DE FRANCISCIS
Former Director of the Lourdes Medical Bureau
I am very, and have been very, very careful to refuse to comment any miracle, because miracles is not my job. A doctor, a medical doctor, a medical student, anyone in medicine a nurse, a pharmacist, we do not study miracles we have no expertise and no authority in miracles.
The doctor from Naples went to Lourdes in 2009 after a friend recommended him to the Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes. After 4 months of reflection, he accepted the post, becoming the first non-Frenchman to serve in the role.
DR. ALESSANDRO DE FRANCISCIS
It was about leaving my country, leaving my mother, my dad, my father had already died. Leaving my sisters, leaving my cousins, leaving my life, leaving and changing and eventually, I said yes. And so, I resigned by both jobs as a university at Governor, and I moved to Lourdes and took office on April 1st 2009.
He describes being the doctor at the Grotto as the greatest honor of his life. He has participated in certifying five new miracles. Lourdes has already recorded 72 throughout its history.
He explains that for a miracle to occur, seven conditions must be met. The first: a clear diagnosis.
DR. ALESSANDRO DE FRANCISCIS
You have no ideas, from all different parts of the world, how many people have wrote to me or have written to me or have come personally to say, 'I could not walk, now I walk.' 'Yes,' I said, 'but how come you couldn't walk?' Ah, no, because... no diagnosis. I couldn't see, no diagnosis. We need a diagnosis, a precise diagnosis.
It's also required that the illness be serious, and that the healing occur instantly, completely, permanently, unexpectedly and inexplicably.
When the 7 conditions have been met, Dr. De Franciscis referred the case to the International Medical Committee of Lourdes. It is composed of nearly 40 doctors from around the world who then vote. If the vote is favorable, it's up to the Church to grant recognition or not.
These are lengthy processes, spanning decades, that require patients to remain in contact with the Lourdes Medical Bureau for many years.
DR. ALESSANDRO DE FRANCISCIS
Never less than 10 years. Sister Benedetta Moriau, the last French miraculous cure, was a record in speed. She was cured in 2008, the year of the Jubilee of Lourdes, and she was recognized in miraculous cure by her bishop, the Bishop of Beauvais in Northern France in 2018. That's very fast. We observe all the time.
After 17 years, Dr. Miracle has stepped down as director of the office. He also resigned from his position as Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Malta, responsible for coordinating the Order's international humanitarian mission.
