Memorial of Saint Padre Pio

Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, better known as Padre Pio, born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, was an Italian priest renowned for his piety, charity, and the mysterious phenomenon of the stigmata, wounds resembling those of Christ on his hands and feet.

He entered the Capuchin Order after overcoming obstacles related to his education. Taking on the name Friar Pio, he embodied the ideals of poverty and simplicity. He became a priest in 1910, but World War I interrupted his ministry. He served in the Italian Medical Corps, battling chronic health issues.

After the war, he settled in the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo, where he taught and prayed alongside the locals. It was during this time that he began to exhibit the stigmata, a phenomenon that perplexed medical experts. Despite skepticism and scrutiny, Padre Pio's stigmata persisted for five decades, with bleeding wounds. He suffered the visible wounds of Christ's crucifixion, and he welcomed the pain as a sacrifice for humanity.

He established the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, a hospital focused on relieving suffering, and he is credited with performing numerous miracles during his lifetime. Throughout his life, he attracted pilgrims seeking his blessings and miraculous manifestations.

Padre Pio passed away on September 23, 1968. Following his death, the process of canonization began, and he was officially declared a saint on June 16, 2002, by Pope John Paul II.

His life was marked by deep devotion to God, fervent prayer, self-sacrifice, and unwavering service to others. Known as the patron saint of Civil defense volunteers, Adolescents, Pietrelcina, Stress relief, and January blues.

Celebrate the feast by doing the following:

• Attend mass.
• Learn more about the Capuchins and Padre Pio foundations:
  • saintpiofoundation.org
  • padrepio.com
• Donate to a hospital or visit the elderly.
• Learn more about Padre Pio’s Spiritualism and Mysticism.
• Reflect and pray with the family.