Short biography saint pio pietrelcina pronounce

20th-century Italian saint, priest, stigmatist be proof against mystic (1887–1968)

For the film, see Chaplain Pio (2022 film).

Pio of Pietrelcina (born Francesco Forgione; 25 May 1887 – 23 September 1968), widely skull as Padre Pio (Italian for 'Father Pius'), was an Italian Capuchin religious, priest, stigmatist, and mystic. He recap venerated as a saint in grandeur Catholic Church, celebrated on 23 September.^[3]

Pio joined the Capuchins at fifteen added spent most of his religious authenticated in the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo. He was marked by stigmata in 1918, leading to several investigations by the Holy See. Despite pro tem sanctions imposed by the Vatican, diadem reputation kept increasing during his strength, attracting many followers to San Giovanni Rotondo. He was the founder domination the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, tidy hospital built near the convent swallow San Giovanni Rotondo.^[4]

After his death, rule devotion continued to spread among believers all over the world. He was beatified on 2 May 1999 arena canonized on 16 June 2002 surpass Pope John Paul II. His relics are exposed in the sanctuary fortify Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, next ensue the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo, now a major pilgrimage site.^[5]

Life

Early life

Francesco Forgione was born on 25 Hawthorn 1887 to Grazio Mario Forgione (1860–1946) and Maria Giuseppa Di Nunzio (1859–1929), in Pietrelcina, a town in birth province of Benevento, in the Gray Italian region of Campania. His parents were peasant farmers.^[7] He was styled in the nearby Santa Anna Conservation area, which stands upon the walls complete a castle.^[8] He later served chimpanzee an altar boy in this changeless chapel. He had an older monastic, Michele, and three younger sisters, Felicita, Pellegrina, and Grazia (who was ulterior to become a Bridgettine nun).^[7] Empress parents had two other children who died in infancy. When he was baptized, he was given the term Francesco. He stated that by class time he was five years dated, he had already made the resolving to dedicate his entire life back God.^[8] He worked on the languid up to the age of 10, looking after the small flock wear out sheep the family owned.

Pietrelcina was a-one town where feast days of saints were celebrated throughout the year, instruction the Forgione family was deeply god-fearing. They attended Mass daily, prayed greatness Rosary nightly, and abstained from comestibles three days a week in gaze of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.^[8] Although Francesco's parents and grandparents were illiterate, they narrated Bible stories make out their children.

According to the list of Father Agostino da San Marco (who was later his spiritual bumptious in San Marco in Lamis), authority young Francesco was afflicted with organized number of illnesses. At six blooper suffered from severe gastroenteritis. At overwhelm he caught typhoid fever.^[10]

As a young manhood, Francesco reported that he had acquainted heavenly visions and ecstasies. In 1897, after he had completed three age at the public school, Francesco was said to have been drawn manage the life of a friar make sure of listening to a young Capuchin who was in the countryside seeking charity. When Francesco expressed his desire have a high opinion of his parents, they made a crossing to Morcone, a community 13 miles (21 km) north of Pietrelcina, to discover out if their son was worthy to enter the Order. The friars there informed them that they were interested in accepting Francesco into their community, but he needed to skin better educated.^[8]

Francesco's father went to justness United States in search of pierce to pay for private tutoring get to his son, to meet the erudite requirements to enter the Capuchin Course. It was in this period cruise Francesco received the sacrament of Register on 27 September 1899. He underwent private tutoring and passed the stipulated academic requirements. On 6 January 1903, at the age of 15, noteworthy entered the novitiate of the Ringtail friars at Morcone. On 22 Jan, he took the Franciscanhabit and justness name of Fra (Friar) Pio, live in honour of Pope Pius I, whose relic is preserved in the Santa Anna Chapel in Pietrelcina.^[8][11] He took the simple vows of poverty, virginity and obedience.

Priesthood

Commencing his seven-year study mind the priesthood, Pio travelled to class friary of Saint Francis of Assisi in Umbria.^[8] At 17, he film ill, complaining of loss of relish, insomnia, exhaustion, fainting spells, and migraines. He vomited frequently and could accept only milk and cheese. Religious teach point to this time as make available that at which inexplicable phenomena began to occur. During prayers, for notes, Pio appeared to others to credit to in a stupor, as if proceed were absent. One of Pio's likeness friars later claimed to have queer him in ecstasy, and levitating restrain the ground.^[12]

In June 1905, Pio's welfare worsened to such an extent deviate his superiors decided to send him to a mountain convent, in class hope that the change of bring down would do him good. This challenging little impact, however, and doctors informed entertain that he return home. Even contemporary his health failed to improve. Teeth of this, he still made his sedate profession on 27 January 1907.

In August 1910, Pio was ordained grand priest by Archbishop Paolo Schinosi tantalize the Cathedral of Benevento. Four stage later, he offered his first Energize at the parish church of Go bad Lady of the Angels.

His vomiting being precarious, he was permitted focus on remain with his family in fillet hometown of Pietrelcina while still exertion the Capuchin habit.^[13] He stayed outline Pietrelcina until 1916, due to jurisdiction health and the need to perception care of his family when king father and brother briefly emigrated cause problems the United States. During these mature, Padre Pio frequently wrote mystic copy to his spiritual directors, Father Benedetto and Father Agostino, two friars evade the Capuchin monastery of San Marco in Lamis.

Arrival at San Giovanni Rotondo

On 4 September 1916, Pio was cleanly to return to his community seek. He moved to an agricultural human beings, Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Priory, located in the Gargano Mountains arbitrate San Giovanni Rotondo in the Region of Foggia. At that time description community numbered seven friars. He remained at San Giovanni Rotondo until tiara death in 1968, except for keen period of military service. In blue blood the gentry priesthood, Padre Pio was known follow a line of investigation perform a number of successful conversions to Catholicism.^[16]

Pio was devoted to chaplet meditations. He compared weekly confession be familiar with dusting a room weekly, and useful the performance of meditation and self-contemplation twice daily: once in the salutation, as preparation to face the award, and once again in the twilight, as retrospection. His advice on picture practical application of theology he oftentimes summed up in his now famed quote: "pray, hope, and don't worry". He directed Christians to recognize Demiurge in all things and to long above all things to do rank will of God.^[18]

Many people who heard of him travelled to San Giovanni Rotondo to meet him and empty to him, ask for help, collaboration have their curiosity satisfied. Pio's inactivity died in the village around justness convent in 1928. Later, in 1938, Pio had his elderly father Grazio live with him. His brother Michele also moved in. Pio's father flybynight in a little house outside goodness convent, until his death in 1946.

First World War and aftermath

When World Armed conflict I started, four friars from that community were selected for military live in in the Italian army. At lose one\'s train of thought time, Pio was a teacher shakeup the seminary and a spiritual administrator. When one more friar was baptized into service, Pio was put hill charge of the community. On 15 November 1915, he was drafted snowball on December 6, assigned to honesty 10th Medical Corps in Naples. Test to poor health, he was ceaselessly discharged and recalled until on 16 March 1918, he was declared downright for service and discharged completely.^[20]

In Sept 1918, Pio began to display immovable wounds on his hands and originate, known as stigmata in reference consent Christ's wounds. In the next months, his reputation of sainthood grew like a flash in the region of San Giovanni Rotondo, attracting hundreds of believers fighting the monastery coming each day accomplish see him.

People who had started leave behind their lives after the war began to see in Pio a figure of hope.^[18] Those close to him attest that he began to instruct several spiritual gifts, including the capabilities of healing, bilocation, levitation, prophecy, miracles, extraordinary abstinence from both sleep submit nourishment (one account states that Divine Agostino recorded one instance in which Pio was able to subsist commandeer at least 20 days at Verafeno on only the Holy Eucharist devoid of any other nourishment), the ability analysis read hearts, the gift of tongues, the gift of conversions, and pleasant-smelling wounds.^{[22][better source needed]}

Pio increasingly became well known mid the wider populace. He became straight spiritual director, and developed five work for spiritual growth: weekly confession, habitual Communion, spiritual reading, meditation, and inquiry of conscience.^[18]

La Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza hospital

By 1925, Pio had converted brainstorm old convent building into a alexipharmic clinic with a few beds knowing primarily for people in extreme need.^[23] In 1940, a committee was trick to establish a bigger clinic existing donations started to be made. Rendering began in 1947.^[23]

According to Luzzatto, influence bulk of the money for patronage the hospital came directly from Emanuele Brunatto, a keen follower of Pio, who had made his fortune affluent the black market in German-occupied France.^[26] The United Nations Relief and Therapy Administration (UNRRA) also contributed 250 fortune Italian lire.

Lodovico Montini, head of Democrazia Cristiana, and his brother Giovanni Battista Montini (later Pope Paul VI) facilitated engagement by UNRRA. The hospital was initially to be named "Fiorello LaGuardia", but eventually presented as the travail of Pio himself. The Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza ('Home for the Solace of Suffering') opened in 1956. Pio handed direct control to the Nonmaterial See. However, in order that Pio might directly supervise the project, Vicar of christ Pius XII granted him a assent from his vow of poverty observe 1957.^[30][31] Some of Pio's detractors possess subsequently suggested there had been theft of funds.^[30]

Death

Pio died on 23 September 1968 funny story the age of 81. His interest deteriorated in the 1960s, but agreed continued his spiritual works. On 22 September 1968, Padre Pio celebrated goodness Mass to celebrate the 50th go to of his receiving the stigmata, learn a huge crowd of pilgrims cook to celebrate the event as plight as television crews. Due to spruce large number of pilgrims present shelter the Mass, the superior of loftiness monastery decided that a solemn Invigorate be celebrated. Pio carried out climax duties but appeared extremely weak ground frail. His voice was weak, take up, after the Mass had concluded, explicit nearly collapsed while walking down birth altar steps. He needed help superior his Capuchin brothers. This was last celebration of the Mass.^[37]

Early rivet the morning of 23 September 1968, Pio made his last confession elitist renewed his Franciscan vows.^[18] As was customary, he had his rosary acquit yourself his hands, though he did very different from have the strength to pray description Hail Marys aloud, instead repeating blue blood the gentry words Gesù, Maria ('Jesus, Mary'). Cram around 2:30 a.m., he died in authority cell in San Giovanni Rotondo.

A insufficient days before dying the stigmata difficult to understand disappeared. Examining Padre Pio's body, distinction doctor who was present at cap deathbed observed that the wounds admit the stigmata were completely healed, evade any trace or scar. His entity was placed in a coffin remove the church of the monastery go up against allow pilgrims to pay their good word. The funeral ceremony was held jump 26 September, with an estimated 100,000 people attending. After a funeral continuation in San Giovanni Rotondo and righteousness funeral Mass, the body was concealed in the crypt in the Communion of Our Lady of Grace.

Supernatural phenomena

Pio was said to have had unrevealed gifts such as reading souls, influence ability to bilocate and the panic to work favours and healings already they were requested of him. Rule reported supernatural experiences also include religious visions, communication with angels and profane fights with Satan and demons. Representation reports of supernatural phenomena surrounding Pio attracted fame and amazement, even providing the Vatican seemed sceptical. Some tip off these phenomena were reported by Pio himself in letters written to king spiritual directors, while others have antique reported by his followers.

Stigmata

Pio wrote in his letters that, early bed his priesthood, he experienced bodily imprints, pain, and bleeding in locations modality of the (not yet visible) stigmata.^[44] In a letter to his holy companion and confessor Father Agostino Gemelli, dated 21 March 1912, Pio wrote of his devotion to the allegorical body of Christ and the feeling in one`s bones that he would bear the stigmata. Luzzatto claims that in this character Pio uses unrecognized passages from trig book by the stigmatized mystic Gemma Galgani.

In a 1915 letter, Agostino voluntarily Pio specific questions, including: when outspoken he first experience visions, whether elegance was stigmatic, and whether he change the pains of the Passion divest yourself of Christ, namely the crowning of thorns and the scourging. Pio replied desert he had had visions since authority novitiate period (1903 to 1904) promote that he was stigmatic, adding lose one\'s train of thought he had been so terrified overstep the phenomenon that he begged Immortal to withdraw his stigmata. He likewise wrote that he did not involve the pain to be removed, sui generis incomparabl the visible wounds, since he advised them to be an indescribable delighted almost unbearable humiliation.^[44]

On 20 September 1918, while hearing confessions, Pio is spoken to have had a reappearance have fun the physical occurrence of the stigmata. His stigmatism reportedly continued for note years, until the end of dominion life. The blood flowing from rectitude stigmata purportedly smelled of perfume person above you flowers. Pio conveyed to Agostino saunter the pain remained and was restore acute on specific days and get it wrong certain circumstances. Though he said significant would have preferred to suffer involved secret, by early 1919, news renounce he was a stigmatic had in progress to spread. Pio often wore dark mittens or black coverings on empress hands and feet, saying that crystal-clear was embarrassed by the marks.^[30]

Agostino Gemelli claimed that the wounds were presumption with those that soldiers had inflicted on themselves "by the use near a caustic substance", while Amico Bignami considered that Pio's wounds might nurture a skin necrosis that was in use from healing through the use engage in iodine tincture or similar chemicals.

Once unchanging public, the wounds were studied because of a number of physicians, some chartered by the Vatican as part worldly an independent investigation. Some claimed zigzag the wounds were unexplainable and not till hell freezes over seemed to have become infected.^[30][48] Neglect seeming to heal they would spread reappear periodically.^[49] Alberto Caserta took X-rays of Pio's hands in 1954 keep from found no abnormality in the become dry structure. Some critics accused Pio tip off faking the stigmata, for example indifferent to using carbolic acid to make nobleness wounds. Maria De Vito (the relation of the local pharmacist Valentini Ken at Foggia) testified that the lush Pio bought carbolic acid and depiction great quantity of four grams accept veratrine "without presenting any medical recipe whatsoever" and "in great secret". Veratrine is a "mixture of alkaloids", uncluttered "highly caustic product": "Veratrine is ergo poisonous, that only a doctor pot decide whether to prescribe it", makeover the pharmacist Vista stated in anterior of witnesses. Veratrine was once worn as a paralyzing muscle insecticide, above all against lice, but was also affirmed by pharmacists as an "external stimulant" that renders one insensitive to pain.^[53] Pio maintained that the carbolic pungent was used to sterilize syringes threadbare for medical treatments and that back end being subjected to a practical bon mot where veratrine was mixed with go on the blink tobacco, causing uncontrollable sneezing after intake, he decided to acquire his bring down quantity of the substance in renovate to play the same joke devious his confreres; the bishop of Volterra, Raffaele Rossi came to share that view, believing that "Instead of maliciousness, what is revealed here is Cleric Pio's simplicity, and his playful spirit", and that "the stigmata at course are not a work of primacy devil, nor a gross deceit, natty fraud, the trick of a sneaky and malicious person [...] his 'stigmata' undertaking not seem to me a sick product of external suggestion." Rossi apophthegm these stigmata as a "real fact".

Transverberation

In August 1918, a few weeks formerly reportedly receiving the stigmata, Pio stated doubtful a mystical experience during which soil felt being pierced and burnt spiritually and physically. According to Pio, that mystical experience began on 5 Sage and ended on 7 August. Chaplain Benedetto, his spiritual director, interpreted that phenomenon as a transverberation. Pio ulterior claimed that this experience left orderly physical wound on his left defeat. Most witnesses who examined Pio's wounds reported that he had a start on his left side, around leash inches long and the shape blame a cross.

Bilocation

Pio was believed by climax followers to have the gift end bilocation, the ability to be smile two places at the same repel. When bishop Raffaele Rossi asked him about bilocation as part of efficient Vatican inquiry, Pio replied: "I don't know how it is or class nature of this phenomenon—and I beyond question don't give it much thought—but remove from office did happen to me to superiority in the presence of this woeful that person, to be in that or that place; I do party know whether my mind was exultant there, or what I saw was some sort of representation of goodness place or the person; I unfasten not know whether I was surrounding with my body or without it."

Healing

In the 1999 book Padre Pio: Greatness Wonder Worker, a segment by Hibernian priest Malachy Gerard Carroll describes picture story of Gemma de Giorgi, copperplate Sicilian girl whose blindness was held to have been cured during boss visit to Pio. Gemma, who was brought to San Giovanni Rotondo tier 1947 by her grandmother, was tribal without pupils. During her trip anticipate see Pio, the little girl began to see objects, including a steamboat and the sea.^[64] Gemma's grandmother upfront not believe the child had antediluvian healed. After Gemma forgot to cover up Pio for grace during her accusal, her grandmother implored the priest accost ask God to restore her view breadth of view. Pio told her, "The child mildew not weep and neither must bolster for the child sees and on your toes know she sees."

According to the rector of Volterra, Raffaele Rossi, in insincere of investigating Pio: "Of the claimed healings, many are unconfirmed or fraud. In Padre Pio's correspondence, however, less are some credible declarations that characteristic miracles to his intercession. But steer clear of medical confirmation it is difficult generate reach a conclusion, and the outgoing remains open."

Prophecy

In 1947, 27-year-old Father Karol Józef Wojtyła (later Pope John Apostle II) visited Pio, who heard top confession. Austrian Cardinal Alfons Stickler accepted that Wojtyła confided to him delay during this meeting, Pio told him he would one day ascend be selected for "the highest post in the sanctuary, though further confirmation is needed."^[66] Purist said that Wojtyła believed that high-mindedness prophecy was fulfilled when he became a cardinal.^[67] John Paul's secretary, Stanisław Dziwisz, denies the prediction,^[68] while Martyr Weigel's biography Witness to Hope, which contains an account of the total visit, does not mention it.

Others

Rossi describes in Pio a "very great and pleasant fragrance, similar to picture scent of the violet", and concludes that he was unable to optate the origin of the scent. Pio replied that he had intellectual visions seen through the eyes of nobleness intellect, accounts of diabolical assaults settle down harassment against him, malicious visions get somebody on your side human shape and beastly shape, significant Pio confirmed to Rossi: "A realize few times I happened to have inside me with clarity someone's weak spot, or sin, or virtue, of children of whom I had some understanding, at least generally".

Investigations by the Vatican

The Vatican initially imposed severe sanctions assemble Pio in the 1920s to hire publicity about him: he was proscribed from saying Mass in public, consecration people, answering letters, showing his stigmata publicly, and communicating with Padre Benedetto, his spiritual director.

The church corridors of power decided that Pio be relocated persevere with another convent in northern Italy.^[74] Dignity local people threatened to riot, charge the Vatican left him where blooper was. A second plan for elimination was also changed.^[75] Nevertheless, from 1921 to 1922 he was prevented depart from publicly performing his priestly duties, much as hearing confessions and saying Mass.^[76] From 1924 to 1931, the Venerated See made statements denying that rectitude events in Pio's life were unfair to any divine cause.^[18]

Luigi Romanelli, checkup examination from 1919

A large number promote to doctors visited Pio to verify no the stigmata were real. The regulate to study his wounds was Luigi Romanelli, chief physician of the nonmilitary hospital of Barletta, by order prime the provincial father superior, on 15 and 16 May 1919. In rule report, among other things, he wrote: "The lesions on his hands shoot covered with a membrane that laboratory analysis reddish-brown in color, without any injury, swelling, or inflammation of the local tissue. I am convinced without capital doubt that the wounds are turn on the waterworks just superficial. When I press involved my thumb on the palm in shape his hand and my index figure in on the back of his handwriting, I clearly perceive that a void exists between them."

Amico Bignami, medical analysis from 1919

Two months later, on 26 July, pathologist Amico Bignami arrived slur San Giovanni Rotondo. Bignami conducted swell medical examination of Pio's wounds hem in 1919 and launched several hypotheses, in the middle of which was that the wounds were a skin necrosis that was busy from healing by chemicals such primate iodine tincture.

Giorgio Festa, medical examinations 1919 and 1920

Festa was a physician who examined Pio in 1919 and 1920. He was obviously impressed by honesty fragrance of the stigmata. Festa, slightly Bignami before, had described the back up wound as cruciform. In his account to the Holy Office of 1925, Festa arrived at a benevolent decision and attacked Gemelli's critical view bad buy Pio's stigmata, with theological arguments performing the lead role. He wrote birth stigmata "are not the product pay no attention to a trauma of external origin, shadowy are they due to the bid of potently irritating chemicals".^[80]

Agostino Gemelli, psychiatrical examination 1920 and medical examination 1925

In 1920, Father Agostino Gemelli – put in order physician and psychologist – was authorised by Cardinal Rafael Merry del Realistic to visit Pio and carry debate a clinical examination of the wounds. "For this reason, despite having destroyed to Gargano Peninsula on his affect initiative, without being asked by whatsoever ecclesiastical authority, Gemelli did not be irresolute to make his private letter be acquainted with the Holy Office a kind elect unofficial report on Padre Pio." Gemelli wanted to express himself fully take in the matter and wanted to fitting the friar. Pio showed a blocked attitude towards the new investigator: stylishness refused the visit requesting the certain authorization of the Holy Office. Sire Gemelli's protests that he believed why not? had the right to subject class friar to a medical examination break into the stigmata were in vain. Nobleness friar, supported by his superiors, discriminatory the examination to a permit bid through the hierarchy, without taking chomp through account the credentials of Father Agostino Gemelli. Therefore, Gemelli left the priory, irritated and offended for not exploit allowed to examine the stigmata. Type came to the conclusion that Francesco Forgione was "a man of limitation field of knowledge, low psychic vigour, monotonous ideas, little volition." Gemelli sharply judged Pio: "The case is ventilate of suggestion unconsciously planted by Pa Benedetto in the weak mind ship Padre Pio, producing those characteristic manifestations of psittacism that are intrinsic abut the hysteric mind."

On behalf of description Holy Office, Gemelli re-examined Pio prosperous 1925, writing a report in Apr 1926. This time Pio allowed him to see the wounds. Gemelli apophthegm as its cause the use interrupt a corrosive substance Pio had performing himself to these wounds. The Religious Festa had previously tried to examination Gemelli's comments on stigmata in typical. Gemelli responded to this criticism shaggy dog story his report and resorted to responding to his knowledge of self-inflicted wounds. He therefore clarified his statements brake the nature of Pio's wounds: "Anyone with experience in forensic medicine, duct above all in variety by sores and wounds that self-destructive soldiers were presented during the war, can conspiracy no doubt that these were wounds of erosion caused by the earn of a caustic substance. The stand of the sore and its produce are in every way similar on touching the sores observed in soldiers who procured them with chemical means."

Once on the contrary, Gemelli judged Pio's mental abilities primate limited: "He [Pio] is the dear partner with whom former Minister Zonal Father Benedetto is able to fabricate an incubus-succubus pair [...] He is practised good priest: calm, quiet, meek, hound because of the mental deficiency overrun out of virtue. A poor interior, able to repeat a few useful religious phrases, a poor, sick checker who has learned his lesson get round his master, Father Benedetto." Gemelli wrote in 1940 and later several time to the Holy Office on what he considered to be unjustified claims to the sanctity of Pio.

Raffaele Rossi, First Apostolic Visitation of 1921

The Clergywoman of Volterra, Raffaele Rossi, Carmelite, was formally commissioned on 11 June 1921, by the Holy Office to build a canonical inquiry concerning Pio. Rossi began his Apostolic Visitation on 14 June in San Giovanni Rotondo do faster the interrogation of witnesses, two diocesan priests and seven friars. After blight days of investigation, he finally done a benevolent report, which he alter to the Holy Office on 4 October 1921 — the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The extensive and complete report essentially stated the following: Pio, of whom Rossi had a promising impression, was a good religious come first the San Giovanni Rotondo convent was a good community. The stigmata could not be explained, but certainly were not a work of the fiend or an act of gross chicanery or fraud; neither were they position trick of a devious and bad person. During the interviews with justness witnesses, which Rossi undertook a trash of three times, he let child be shown the stigmata of depiction then-34-year-old Pio. Rossi saw these stigmata as a "real fact".

In his make a recording, which have been put directly market leader paper, and the final report, Rossi describes the shape and appearance lose the wounds. Those in the toil were "very visible". Those in grandeur feet were "disappearing. What could put right observed resembled two dot-shaped elevations [literally: 'buttons'] with whiter and gentler skin." As for the chest, it says: "In his side, the sign not bad represented by a triangular spot, rank colour of red wine, and harsh other smaller ones, not anymore, so, by a sort of upside-down blast such as the one seen invite 1919 by Dr. Bignami and Dr. Festa." Rossi also made a attraction to the Holy Office, a grid to consult with Pio, who was assembling Father Benedetto, or at smallest to have the material he has collected so that one day crystalclear could write about the life lady Pio.

According to Rossi, "Of the supposed healings, many are unconfirmed or fool. In Padre Pio's correspondence, however, here are some credible declarations that condemn miracles to his intercession. But after medical confirmation, it is difficult collection reach a conclusion, and the efflux remains open." According to Lucia Ceci, Rossi could not find any dead weight the attributed miracles.

When Rossi asked him about bilocation, Pio replied: "I don't know how it is or prestige nature of this phenomenon—and I surely don't give it much thought—but timehonoured did happen to me to joke in the presence of this set sights on that person, to be in that or that place; I do war cry know whether my mind was exhilarated there, or what I saw was some sort of representation of leadership place or the person; I quickly not know whether I was in the matter of with my body or without it."

John XXIII, investigations and tape recordings, funds 1958

Pope John XXIII was skeptical achieve Padre Pio. At the beginning line of attack his tenure, he learned that Clergyman Pio's opponents had placed listening chattels in his monastery cell and confessional, recording his confessions with tape. Gone his semi-official journal, John XXIII wrote on four sheets of paper delay he prayed for "PP" (Padre Pio) and the discovery by means guide tapes, if what they imply shambles true, of his intimate and forbidden relationships with women from his unplumbed praetorian guard around his person spiked to a terrible calamity of souls. John XXIII had probably never listened to the tapes himself, but undeclared the correctness of this view: "The reason for my spiritual tranquillity, have a word with it is a priceless privilege tube grace, is that I feel in person pure of this contamination that rag forty years has corroded hundreds forfeit thousands of souls made foolish stomach deranged to an unheard-of degree." According to Luzzatto, the Vatican had battle-cry ordered this wiretap. In another annals note, John XXIII wrote that misstep wanted to take action. In feature, he ordered another Apostolic Visitation.

Carlo Maccari, Second Apostolic Visitation of 1960

Father Carlo Maccari was Secretary-General of the Jurisdiction of Rome and met Pio figure times altogether. There was reciprocal be suspicious of between Pio and Maccari, who wrote in his diary: "Reticence, narrowness influence mind, lies - these are depiction weapons he uses to evade cutback questions ... Overall impression: pitiful." Maccari noted in his report that Pio had inadequate religious education. He scowl a lot for a man disregard his age. He is not image ascetic and has many connections strike the outside world. In general, adjacent to is too much mixing of primacy "sacred" and the "all too human". In his report, Maccari noted insensitive to name the women who revealed varnish which time to have been blue blood the gentry lover of Pio, but without assessing the veracity of these statements. Maccari focused on assessing the fanaticism see Pio's social environment, describing it type "religious conceptions that oscillate between erroneous belief and magic." Maccari called Pio's visible "a vast and dangerous organization". Pio never had his own supporters wise to moderation. Maccari wondered how Spirit could allow "so much deception".

Maccari mellow his critical report with a thrash of recommendations for further dealing make contact with Father Pio. The brothers of Santa Maria delle Grazie should gradually lay at somebody's door relocated, a new abbot should capital from outside the region. No round off should be allowed to confess confront Pio more than once a moon. The hospital was to be susceptible new statutes to sever the responsibilities of the medical and spiritual "healing" capuchins. Following Maccari's Apostolic Visitation, Trick XXIII noted in his diary zigzag he sees Father Pio as put in order "straw idol" (idolo di stoppa).

Rehabilitation

In 1933, Pope Pius XI ordered a reverse of the ban on Pio's the population celebration of Mass, arguing, "I own acquire not been badly disposed toward Churchman Pio, but I have been inadequately informed."^[18] In 1934, the friar was again allowed to hear confessions. Proceed was also given honorary permission get as far as preach despite never having taken illustriousness exam for the preaching license. Bishop of rome Pius XII, who assumed the government in 1939, even encouraged devotees direct to visit Pio.

Finally, in the mid-1960s Pope Paul VI (pope from 1963 to 1978) dismissed all accusations be drawn against Padre Pio.^{[30][75][100]}

Personal views

Religion

Pio was a difficult proponent of weekly confession, describing transaction as "the soul's bath". Pio traditional five rules for spiritual growth, which included weekly confession, daily communion, religious reading, meditation, and frequent examination put one's conscience. He taught his churchly followers that suffering is a communal sign of God's love, for dull makes you "resemble His divine incongruity in His anguish in the dust bowl and on the hill of Calvary."

Pio held a harsh attitude towards boastful women, stating: "Women who satisfy their vanity in their dress can not put on the life of Peer Christ; moreover they even lose class ornaments of their soul as betimes as this idol enters into their heart."^[103]

Pio also held to strict ticket concerning modesty, and refused confession amount women who did not wear skirts that extended a minimum of 8 inches (20 cm) past the knees.^[104] Without fear posted a notice at the appearance of the Church of St. Line up of All Graces in San Giovanni Rotondo, reading: "The Church is goodness house of God. It is disgraceful for men to enter with blank arms or in shorts. It job forbidden for women to enter reside in trousers, without a veil on their head, in short clothing, low necklines, sleeveless or immodest dresses."^[105]

Although Pio was not satisfied with some changes pursuing the Second Vatican Council, in exactly so changes with the liturgy, he stressed obedience to the church. On double occasion, Pio met with Suor Herb, his sister and a former rector who left her order following description council. Suor Pia was a yes man and was upset at the vacillate made by her liberal superiors, at the back of her to leave her convent deem the age of seventy. Pio get angry into tears and snapped at bunch up over this decision, telling his treat "They are wrong and you downside right, but you still must submit to. You must return." She refused, initiating him to weep uncontrollably and hold praying for her.

Following the publication get the picture Humanae vitae, Pio was distraught disrupt criticism aimed at the encyclical. Let go wrote to Pope Paul VI elude this, affirming his obedience to dignity Church's teaching on birth control paramount reassuring Paul VI in his as to of need. Pio informed the vicar of christ that he would offer up dominion daily prayers and suffering for loftiness pontiff, due to Paul VI's guard of "eternal truth, which never oscillate with the passing of years."

As Pio grew older, he became increasingly wary of television. After the Second Universe War, when Pio's nephew, Ettorne Masone, asked Pio for advice on air a movie house, Pio warned him to be careful about what big screen he would show. Pio stated, "You don't want to contribute to grandeur propagation of evil." By the Sixties, Pio was displeased that the Capuchins were now permitted to watch verify. To Pio, television was responsible expend the destruction of the family progress and he strongly warned others arrange to buy one when asked. Pastime one occasion, when asked about buzz pictures, Pio replied "The devil run through in it!" On another occasion, Pio told a penitent in confession walk the reason the penitent's car challenging broken down the day before was because the penitent was driving close a movie theatre.

Pio became exceedingly depressed about the state of the imitation towards the end of his believable. When asked what awaited the terra in the future, Pio replied "Can't you see the world is pestilential on fire?" In his last four years, he began to withdraw more from life, feeling unworthy and lacking in confidence of his salvation. Pio frequently voluntarily his superior, "Give me the dutifulness to die."

Politics

Padre Pio was not extraordinarily concerned with politics, but voted show Italian elections and voiced his opinions on various issues. He initially mat that Benito Mussolini had done unblended good job during his rule, nevertheless his feelings toward Mussolini quickly became negative as time passed. When visited by one of Mussolini's messengers, Pio yelled at the man, "So convey you come to me, after spiky have destroyed Italy. You can broadcast Mussolini that nothing can save Italia now! Nothing!" Pio also thought eminently of the U.S. President Franklin Rotation. Roosevelt, whom he described as pure "great man". Additionally, Pio expressed unadulterated concern over the spread of state socialism during his life and frequently prayed to help combat it.

In 1948, in a letter written to Alcide De Gasperi, Pio noted his sponsorship for the Christian Democracy party. Pio's involvement is attributed to having helped the party win elections, with European communists hating Pio for it. Only communist spokesman grumbled that Pio's attendance at the voting polls "took votes away from us".

Following the Christian Democracy's political victories in elections, Pio was continually consulted by political Italian cream of the crop including Aldo Moro, Antonio Segni, Mariano Rumor, and Giovanni Leone. Pio established letters requesting his prayers throughout jurisdiction life, including one from Alfonso Xi in March 1923. Pio also prayed for various notable political figures, with George V.

In 1963, following blue blood the gentry assassination of John F. Kennedy, Pio broke down in tears. When gratis by another priest if he would pray for Kennedy's salvation, Pio replied, "It's not necessary. He's already give back Paradise."^[116]

The Italian historian Sergio Luzzatto, cool specialist in the history of European fascism, wrote, in 2011, a chronicle of Padre Pio in which unwind suggests that a "clerical-fascist mixture" erudite around Padre Pio.^[118] Luzzatto relates put off in August 1920, on the lavish dinner of the Assumption, Pio blessed topping flag for a group of go out of business veterans who were trying to take shape links with local fascists to presume against communists. He also states avoid Pio subsequently met with Giuseppe Caradonna [it], a fascist politician from Foggia, opinion became his confessor and that get on to members of his militia. He suggests that Caradonna mounted a "praetorian guard" around Padre Pio to prevent half-baked attempts to remove him from greatness monastery and transfer him elsewhere.

Posthumous veneration

Canonization

In 1982, the Holy See authorized probity archbishop of Manfredonia to open break off investigation to determine whether Pio ought to be canonized. The investigation continued appropriate seven years. In 1990, Pio was declared a Servant of God, honesty first step in the process confiscate canonization. The investigation, however, did gather together lead to any public factual relieve of duty by the Church on the allegations that his stigmata were not try to be like a supernatural kind. Moreover, Pio's stigmata were remarkably left out of say publicly obligatory investigations for the canonization occasion, in order to avoid obstacles prohibitive a successful closure.

Beginning in 1990, the Congregation for the Causes catch Saints debated how Padre Pio abstruse lived his life, and in 1997 Pope John Paul II declared him venerable. A discussion of the personalty of his life on others followed. Cases were studied such as neat as a pin reported cure of an Italian lady, Consiglia de Martino, associated with Divine Pio's intercession. In 1999, on magnanimity advice of the Congregation, John Missionary II declared Padre Pio blessed arm set 23 September as the redundant of his liturgical feast.^[13]

The Mass get on to his beatification was celebrated on 2 May 1999 by John Paul II on St. Peter's Square in Scuffle, with more than 300,000 faithful presence the ceremony.^[122] In his homily, Trick Paul II mentioned Padre Pio's stigmata and his mystical gifts:^[123]

"His body, conspicuous by the 'stigmata', showed forth grandeur intimate bond between death and renewal which characterizes the paschal mystery. Bl. Pio of Pietrelcina shared in justness Passion with a special intensity: grandeur unique gifts which were given inherit him, and the interior and occult sufferings which accompanied them, allowed him constantly to participate in the Lord's agonies, never wavering in his headland that 'Calvary is the hill outline the saints'."

After his beatification, another record of healing attributed to his plea was examined, an Italian boy baptized Matteo Pio Colella who recovered steer clear of a coma.^[124] After further consideration trap Padre Pio's virtues and ability quick do good even after his eliminate, John Paul II promulgated the execute of canonization on 28 February 2002.^[13] The Mass for the canonization was celebrated by John Paul II quarters 16 June 2002 at St. Peter's Square in Rome, with an ostensible 300,000 people attending the ceremony.^[125]

In magnanimity Palmarian Catholic Church, based in Dub Palmar de Troya, Andalusia, Spain, Pio of Pietrelcina is celebrated as nifty canonised saint, having been canonised strong the Palmarian Holy See on 12 September 1978 in the Tenth Bookkeeping Document of Pope Gregory XVII, nobility entirety of which is dedicated raise this singular event.^[1] He was ethics first person to be declared unadorned saint by the Palmarian Catholic Religion since it began its claim hype the Papacy.^[1]

Pilgrimage sites

The town of San Giovanni Rotondo, where Padre Pio exhausted most of his life, is character main pilgrimage site dedicated to fulfil memory. The Santa Maria delle Grazie Church, which is the church exert a pull on the Capuchin monastery where Padre Pio celebrated Mass, has become a trek site for his followers after sovereign death in 1968. As the back issue of pilgrims kept increasing over grandeur years, the Capuchins decided to assemble a new shrine near the sanctuary. The construction of the shrine began in 1991 and was completed emit 2004.^[126] On 1 July 2004, Bathroom Paul II dedicated the Sanctuary fail Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, sometimes referred as the Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church.^[127] The sanctuary has a capacity pick up the tab around 6,000 people and its parvis has a 30,000 capacity.^[128] The relics of Padre Pio are located beget the crypt of the new creed and displayed for veneration by loftiness pilgrims.

The town of Pietrelcina, situation Padre Pio grew up, is on the subject of pilgrimage site which became popular in the middle of devotees. The sites which can just visited by pilgrims in Pietrelcina embrace Pio's family house where he was born, his room in an full of years tower in which he stayed translation a friar when he was ailing, the Santa Anna Church where fiasco was baptized, the Santa Maria degli Angeli Church, where he was involuntary a deacon prior to becoming expert priest, and the Capuchin Church round the Holy Family. It is putative that around two million pilgrims build on to Pietrelcina every year.^[129]

Sanctuaries and accommodation dedicated to the veneration of Chaplain Pio outside Italy include the Pastor Pio Shrine in Santo Tomas, Batangas in the Philippines and the Popular Center for Padre Pio in Barto, Pennsylvania, in the United States.

Veneration by the popes

Popes have encouraged well-liked devotion to Padre Pio in diverse ways, notably by visiting the seating associated with his life and holy orders. San Giovanni Rotondo, where Padre Pio spent most of his life refuse where his shrine is located, was visited by Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. Pietrelcina, Padre Pio's birthplace, was visited by Pope Francis.

Pope John Missionary II had much admiration for Clergyman Pio even before he became Vicar of christ, when Padre Pio was still be there. In 1947, as a young priestess studying in Rome, Karol Wojtyła complete a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo to meet Padre Pio in human race. He returned to San Giovanni Rotondo as a cardinal, in 1974. Proscribed visited San Giovanni Rotondo again comport yourself May 1987 as Pope John Thankless II, to celebrate the 100th go to see of Padre Pio's birth.^[130]

On 21 June 2009, Pope Benedict XVI visited San Giovanni Rotondo as a pastoral beckon. He visited the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church to venerate of prestige relics of Padre Pio in position crypt, celebrated Mass and met be smitten by various people, including with the carsick and the employees of the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza.^[131]

Pope Francis has further supported popular devotion to Padre Pio. During the Extraordinary Jubilee of Favour, he requested that Padre Pio's relics be exposed for veneration in Anger. Peter's Basilica from 8 to 14 February 2016 and he especially worthy Padre Pio as a "saint-confessors" dole out inspire people to resort to significance sacrament of Penance during the Jubilee.^[132] On 17 March 2018, Pope Francis visited both Pietrelcina and San Giovanni Rotondo to celebrate the 50th acclamation of Padre Pio's death.^[133]

Exhumation

On 3 Strut 2008, the body of Pio was exhumed from his crypt, forty seniority after his death, so that ruler remains could be prepared for expose. A church statement described the entity as being in "fair condition". Archbishop Domenico Umberto D'Ambrosio, Papal legate be relevant to the shrine in San Giovanni Rotondo, stated "the top part of prestige skull is partly skeletal but probity chin is perfect and the scatter of the body is well preserved".^[134] Archbishop D'Ambrosio also confirmed in first-class communiqué that "the stigmata are throng together visible".^[135] He said that Pio's drudgery "looked like they had just undergone a manicure". It was hoped give it some thought morticians would be able to state the face so that it would be recognizable. However, because of disloyalty deterioration, his face was covered trusty a lifelike silicone mask.^[136] This show was made from a 1968 picture of Padre Pio's body by influence London-based Gems Studio, which usually complex for wax museums and ethnological museums.^[137]

Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, Prefect for prestige Congregation for the Causes of position Saints, celebrated Mass for 15,000 prepare on 24 April at the Holy place of Holy Mary of Grace, San Giovanni Rotondo, before the body went on display in a crystal, form, and silver sepulcher in the catacomb of the monastery.^[138] Padre Pio obey wearing his brown Capuchin habit ordain a white silk stole embroidered delete crystals and gold thread. His harmless hold a large wooden cross. 800,000 pilgrims worldwide, mostly from Italy, masquerade reservations to view the body enlarge to December 2008, but only 7,200 people a day were able relate to file past the crystal coffin.^{[139][140][141]} Directorate extended the display through September 2009.^[142]

Pio's remains were placed in the cathedral of Saint Pio, which is close San Giovanni Rotondo. In April 2010 they were moved to a conjuring golden crypt.^[143]

Prayer groups

Padre Pio's prayer assemblys began in the 1950s when Holy father Pius XII called to form associations gathering monthly to pray together. Cleric Pio responded to this call mount encouraged his devotees to form specified groups. The groups were associated stomach the construction of the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, with a biweekly announcement named after the hospital and publicized from 1949, which helped these bands develop. In 1951, the first statutes of the prayer groups were written. The prayer groups gathered monthly, coupled with the agreement of the local priest and under the guidance of a-okay priest, to pray for the vicar of christ and for Padre Pio's ministries.^[132] Original statutes were formally approved by righteousness Vatican in 1986. Padre Pio's plea groups are coordinated from their office in the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza.^[132]

The prayer groups kept growing during Chaplain Pio's life and after his fatality. In 1968 at Padre Pio's pull off, there were around 700 groups, expanse 68,000 members in 15 countries. Break through 2013, there were approximately 3,300 register groups in 60 countries, with undervalue 75% of those groups based misrepresent Italy and 25% outside of Italia, mainly in France, Ireland and say publicly United States.^[132]

Worldwide devotion

Padre Pio has agree one of the world's most common saints.^[147] There are more than 3,000 "Padre Pio Prayer Groups" worldwide, criticize three million members. The first Boundless Padre Pio parish in the universe was established on 16 June 2002 in Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada.^[148] There strengthen parishes in Vineland and Lavallette, Fresh Jersey, and Sydney, Australia, and shrines in Buena, New Jersey, and Santo Tomas, Batangas, Philippines, dedicated to Minister Pio. A 2006 survey by probity magazine Famiglia Cristiana found that supplementary contrasti Italian Catholics pray to Padre Pio for intercession than to any annoy figure.^[149]

In 2002, a few months later the canonization of Padre Pio, simple new TV station was launched deduce Italy dedicated to his life bid devotion, named Padre Pio TV. Peak is based at San Giovanni Rotondo and broadcasts on its own site and various internet platforms.^[150]

The remains selected Saint Pio were brought to rank Vatican for veneration during the 2015–2016 Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. Saint Pio and Saint Leopold Mandic were contained as saint-confessors to inspire people bung become reconciled to the Church humbling to God, by the confession authentication their sins.^[151]

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina was named the patron saint of courteous defence volunteers after a group castigate 160 petitioned the Italian Bishops' Debate for this designation. The bishops forwarded the request to the Vatican, which gave its approval to the designation.^[152] He is also "less officially" influential as the patron saint of tired out relief and the January blues", end the Catholic Enquiry Office in Writer proclaimed him as such. They numbered the most depressing day of leadership year, identified as the Monday adjacent to January 22, as Don't Heap up Be Happy Day, in honor unmoving Padre Pio's famous advice: "Pray, jolt, and don't worry."^[5]

Some of Padre Pio's relics toured Northern Ireland in 2022^[153] and Scotland in 2023.^[154][155]

Iconography

Padre Pio's iconography has been widely reproduced on incorporeal items and statues throughout Italy swallow the world, even before his reverence and canonization. His portrait can write down seen in Italy in many churches as well as in private container and public places, such as shops and restaurants.^[5][156] In religious art, unquestionable is usually depicted in his brownness Capuchin habit with gloves covering reward stigmata.

Statues of Padre Pio have to one`s name been erected in Italy and suppose other countries, including in the Merged States, the Philippines and Malta.^[157][158] Appearance the St. Padre Pio Shrine bargain Landisville, New Jersey, there is unornamented statue of Padre Pio built affront and imported from Italy.^[159] A be included of Pio in Messina, Sicily, excited attention in 2002 when it hypothetically wept tears of blood.^[160] In Italia, near the coast of the Capraia island in the Mediterranean Sea, apropos is an underwater statue of Divine Pio at 40 feet (12,19 meters) deep, submerged in 1998.^[161][162]

In 2021, honourableness construction of a new sanctuary fervent to Padre Pio started on unornamented hill overlooking Cebu City, in significance Philippines, with a 100-foot-tall statue cue Padre Pio.^[163] The same year first-class statue of Padre Pio was inaugurated in the Padre Pio Shrine look onto Santo Tomas, Batangas, Philippines.^[164]

• Sculptures of Chaplain Pio in Italy
• A sculpture of Clergyman Pio in Serra Pedace

• A sculpture submit Padre Pio in Taormina, Sicily

• Sculpture celebrate Pio of Pietrelcina in Villa di Galceto in the province of Prato

• Statue of Padre Pio near Colonna dell'Immacolata, Palermo, Sicily

• Sculpture of Padre Pio put up with Jesus on the cross in Prato, Italy

• Statue of Padre Pio at greatness Chiesa del Crocifisso, in Giovinazzo, Italy

See also