The statue of the Devil being pulverised by the Holy Water Stoup, supplied for Abbé Bérenger Saunière's church by Giscard of Toulouse, dating from 1897 (part of Invoice Number 6), was copied TWICE by the Italian Father Granzotto, who was of the Order of Friars Minor (O.F.M.), also known as the Franciscans. One of the statues of the Devil was made by Father Granzotto in his home town of Santa Lucia – the other Statue is located in the Sanctuary of San Barbano, on the small island in the Grado Lagoon, near the coastal town of Grado in northeastern Italy.

It was after Father Granzotto's Pilgrimage to Lourdes, during the 1930s, that he visited the village of Rennes-le-Château, and subsequently sculpted two copies of the statue of the Devil as found in the church of St Mary Magdalene.

Known as Blessed Claudio Granzotto, he chose to live as a professed religious brother (a lay brother) rather than being ordained as a priest, dedicating his life to prayer, serving the poor, and his work as a sculptor. His artistic abilities, particularly in religious sculpture, were a significant part of his life and ministry. Father Claudio Granzotto was beatified and declared “Blessed” on 20 November 1994, by Pope John Paul II during a ceremony at St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Clearly there is nothing “heretical” or anything to do with the Knight's Templar in the church of St Mary Magdalene in Rennes-le-Château.

Rennes-le-Château




Santa Lucia




Sanctuary of San Barbano