ST. AMANT - Thousands came out to Holy Rosary Catholic Church to see, touch and kiss a first-class relic of former Pope John Paul II. 

The relic, a vial of the Pope's blood before his death, was put on display near the church's altar. It's an item that some believers say can perform miracles. 

"We've seen wonders happen," Sister Karla Maria Icaza said. "People that have had cancer were cured. People that couldn't have babies have babies. Conversion stories have been all over the world because of those coming in contact with him." 

Some say they came from miles away to view the relic. 

Father Joshua Johnson of Holy Rosary says he asked the nuns to bring the relic to his church to help believers still trying to recover after last year's flood. 

"I wanted this community, who has been through so much this past week, to see a person who had their own suffering, but had faith Jesus Christ in the midst of it all," Johnson said.