Articles / Special

Image : Official portrait photograph of Padre Pio (After Elia Stelluto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

The story of one of the most beloved saints of our times began on 25 May 1887 in the Italian village of Pietrelcina. Inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi, Francesco Forgione, known by his religious name “Padre Pio,” spent his life focused on the Passion and Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Birth and Ordination

Born into a poor Italian farm family, from a young age Francesco Forgione desired to be a friar. When he was sixteen, he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Order, and took the name Brother Pius (Fra Pio). He was ordained to the priesthood in 1910; six years later, joined the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in San Giovanni Rotondo, where he spent most of his religious life. He spent many hours every day hearing Confessions. The height of his apostolic commitment was the celebration of the Holy Mass.

The Stigmata

Pio received the stigmata for the first time in 1910 and then again in 1918, leading to several investigations by the Holy See. Despite temporary sanctions imposed by the Vatican, his reputation kept increasing during his life, attracting many followers to San Giovanni Rotondo. He bore the wounds of Christ for 50 years until his death in 1968.

Mystical Gifts

Padre Pio was known for other miraculous phenomena, including bilocation (being in two places at once), spiritual reading of souls, and reports of divine fragrance emanating from him.

An extraordinary connection

In 1948, Padre Pio heard the Confession of a young Polish priest, Father Karol Wojtyła, who thirty years later would ascend the throne of Peter, taking the name John Paul II. In 1962, when Wojtyła was still an archbishop in Poland, he wrote to Padre Pio and asked him to pray for a Polish woman with throat cancer. Within two weeks, she had been cured of her life-threatening disease. It was during John Paul’s pontificate that Padre Pio was declared blessed. During the rite of beatification, the Pope said that in the humble friar, we see the image of Christ suffering and rising.

Charity and Service

The life of Padre Pio also shows an intense commitment to alleviate the sufferings of families. In 1956 he inaugurated the “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” (the House of Relief from Suffering), a new state of the art hospital.

A number of people have reported cures they believe were received through the intercession of Padre Pio. Those who assisted at his Masses came away edified; several curiosity seekers were deeply moved. Like Saint Francis, Padre Pio sometimes had his habit torn or cut by souvenir hunters.

Death and Canonization

Padre Pio died during the night of 23 September 1968, at the age of 81. After his death, his devotion continued to spread among believers all over the world. He was beatified on 2 May 1999 and canonized on 16 June 2002 by Pope John Paul II. More than 300,000 people braved blistering heat as they filled St. Peter’s Square and nearby streets.

His feast day is celebrated on September 23. 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.

- Article by Catholic Time Staff