Hundreds of church members attended a special ceremony on Friday night where a young woman claiming to have suffered stigmata - the injuries Jesus suffered when he was crucified – told her story.

Toaipuapuaga Opapo, 23, was the main attraction during a mass held at the Catholic Cathedral in Apia.

In addressing the large congregation of people from different denominations who attended, Ms. Opapo reminded that heaven and hell are real. 

She also claimed that in this world, there are many lost souls who must be saved. She added that her experience during the past few days is a message from God for Samoa to repent.

 “I know that there will be people who don’t believe and there will be people who believe,” she said.

At the Cathedral, hundreds of people shed tears as they gathered around her to feel her hands and her feet.

 “This is just a warning for everyone that Jesus died on the cross for you and me to be clean of sins.” 

The mother of one, who is the daughter of an E.F.K.S Church minister, said she began seeing visions before Easter.

She played the part of Jesus in a Sunday School Easter play, during which church members noticed wounds appearing on her body.

Video footage of the play show congregation members approaching the front of the church, where she had collapsed, to fan her.

Her claims have sparked huge debate in and outside Samoa.