When he was baptized, he was given the name Francesco. His parents had two other children who died in infancy. He had an older brother, Michele, and three younger sisters, Felicita, Pellegrina, and Grazia (who was later to become a Bridgettine nun). He later served as an altar boy in this same chapel. He was baptized in the nearby Santa Anna Chapel, which stands upon the walls of a castle. Life Early life įrancesco Forgione was born to Grazio Mario Forgione (1860–1946) and Maria Giuseppa Di Nunzio (1859–1929) on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, a town in the province of Benevento, in the Southern Italian region of Campania. His relics are exposed in the sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, next to the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo, now a major pilgrimage site. He was beatified on and canonized on 16 June 2002 by Pope John Paul II. Īfter his death, his devotion continued to spread among believers all over the world. He was involved in the construction of the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, a hospital built near the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo. Despite temporary sanctions imposed by the Vatican, his reputation kept increasing during his life, attracting many followers to San Giovanni Rotondo. He was marked by stigmata in 1918, leading to several investigations by the Holy See. Pio joined the Capuchins at fifteen and spent most of his religious life in the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, celebrated on 23 September. Stigmata, Franciscan habit, sacerdotal vestmentsįrancesco Forgione, OFMCap, better known as Padre Pio and as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina ( Italian: Pio da Pietrelcina – 23 September 1968), was an Italian Franciscan Capuchin friar, priest, stigmatist, and mystic. Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, National Centre of Padre Pio in Barto, Pennsylvania, Parish and National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Santo Tomas, Batangas Philippines , Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul IIġ6 June 2002, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II San Giovanni Rotondo, Province of Foggia, Apulia, Italy Pietrelcina, Province of Benevento, Kingdom of Italy I turn, therefore, as a son most humble and completely obedient to the Catholic Church … With profound humility I kiss your sacred ring and profess myself to your excellency your most humble and obedient son.Ībove all, even though the accusations put against him proved false (and he would eventually be allowed to minister without restrictions), Padre Pio submitted to the decree and remained silent, trusting in God’s provident plan.Official portrait photograph of Padre Pio, c. I must repeat that I am very disgusted by the unworthy behavior of certain false prophets who speak in my behalf … they should stop this false and unworthy propaganda, but meanwhile they have followed in their morbid fanaticism, not caring about the supreme authority of the church. Padre Pio was appalled by this response and urged them to stop, writing to the local bishop to assert his dissociation with them. Humble and obedient sonĭuring this time many came to Padre Pio’s defense, submitting petitions, writing letters and even publishing books. He couldn’t even write to his spiritual children. Padre Pio would spend the next several years in silence, celebrating Mass privately and accepting no visitors. The will of the superiors is the will of God. The superior of the monastery read to Padre Pio the decree and the saintly friar responded, “ God’s will be done … The will of the superiors is the will of God.” It was a difficult cross for him to bear, but he obeyed and submitted to the decree. Padre Pio is to be stripped of all the faculties of his priestly ministry except the faculty to celebrate the Holy Mass, which he may continue to do, provided that it is done in private, within the walls of the friary, in the inner chapel, and not publicly in church. Instead, the Vatican decided to restrict his faculties, removing him from public life. This made it clear to Church officials that Padre Pio could not be moved peacefully. The crowd didn’t leave until Padre Pio spoke to them, saying, “My blessed children … Now I implore you to listen to me, as you always do, and return to your homes without harming anyone.” They barred the door from a priest they believed would take Padre Pio away. According to the biography Padre Pio: The True Story published by Our Sunday Visitor, “Around 10:00 p.m., a furious mob descended upon the friary.” The local people were furious when they heard he was to be moved.
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