Pope Francis plans to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of St. Pio of Pietrelcina and the 100th anniversary of Padre Pio receiving the stigmata by visiting the famed Italian saint’s hometown and the pediatric oncology ward of the hospital he founded.
Relics of St. Padre Pio, a Capuchin priest who bore the stigmata of Jesus, will be on public display in several U.S. dioceses and archdioceses in May and again in the fall.
The heart of St. Padre Pio, the only major relic of the saint to leave Italy, was brought to the Boston metro area by the Capuchin friars who run the Shrine of St. Padre Pio in the saint’s hometown of San Giovanni Rotondo in southern Italy.
The final Mass of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, affectionately known as Padre Pio, was caught on video. It captures some of the last hours of his life, as he passed away early in the morning the next day.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Praying is not like taking an aspirin, something one does just to feel a little better, Pope Francis told thousands of members […]
