FLORENCE, Italy, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- A tunic purportedly belonging to St. Francis of Assisi has been determined by scientists in Florence, Italy, to be too young to be his.
Using a new technique of low-energy particle scan of carbon-14 atoms, researchers from Florence's Nuclear Technology for the Cultural Heritage Laboratories known as LABEC found the material was made about 70 years after Francis died in the 13th century, the ANSA news agency reported.
The tunic of the mystic saint has been revered at the Santa Croce church in Florence for centuries, although Franciscan authorities said they were happy to know the truth.
They got better news on another tunic and pillow said to have been on Francis' deathbed, however. Those have been stored in a church in the town of Cortona, and both were confirmed as dating to Francis' lifespan of 1181-1226, the report said.
Francis the patron saint of animals, the environment, and along with St. Catherine of Siena, patron saint of Italy.
