Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Priest
- Feast Day
- September 23
- Life
- 1887–1968
- Canonized
- 2002
- Order
- Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
- Born
- Pietrelcina, Italy
Francesco Forgione was born at Pietrelcina, in the Italian province of Benevento, on 25 May 1887. He entered the Capuchin novitiate in 1903, taking the name Brother Pio, and was ordained priest in 1910. From 1916 he was assigned to the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo on the spur of Monte Gargano, where he would remain for fifty-two years.
On 20 September 1918, while praying before a crucifix in the choir loft after Mass, he received the visible stigmata, the wounds of the Passion in his hands, feet, and side, which he would carry for the next fifty years. The phenomenon was studied repeatedly by ecclesiastical and medical commissions, and the Holy See's response was at first cautious; restrictions on his public ministry imposed under Pope Pius XI in 1931 were lifted by Pope Pius XII in 1933.
Padre Pio became one of the most sought-after confessors of the twentieth century, hearing as many as eighteen hours of confessions a day. In 1956 he opened the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, the Home for the Relief of Suffering, a large modern hospital at San Giovanni Rotondo. He founded prayer groups (Gruppi di Preghiera) that continue around the world. He died at San Giovanni Rotondo at 2:30 in the morning of 23 September 1968. Pope Saint John Paul II beatified him on 2 May 1999 and canonized him on 16 June 2002 in Saint Peter's Square.
In the canonization homily, Pope John Paul II said Padre Pio's life teaches how gentle the yoke of Christ is, and how truly light is his burden when it is borne with faithful love. The Pope characterized him as a generous dispenser of divine mercy and recalled his conviction that prayer is the best weapon we have, a key that opens the heart of God.
Patronages
civil defense volunteers · adolescents · stress relief
From Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
"Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God's heart."
Catholic Churches Named After Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
20 parishes on Catholic Church Times share Saint Pio of Pietrelcina's name. Find their Mass times, confession schedules, and adoration hours:
- St. Padre Pio Parish — Bulawayo
- Padre Pio Ithenguri Catholic Parish — Ithenguri
- St. Pius of Pietrelcina Parish (Padre Pio) — Parañaque City, NCR
- St. Padre Pio Parish — Legazpi City, V
- St. Padre Pio Parish — Aroroy, MASBATE
- St. Padre Pio Parish — Sorsogon, SORSOGON
- St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Parish — Pozorrubio, PANGASINAN
- St. Padre Pio National Shrine and Parish — Sto. Tomas, BATANGAS
- San Pedro Calungsod – Sanctuary of Padre Pio — Antipolo, RIZAL
- San Padre Pio de Pietrelcina Parish — Magsingal, ILOCOS SUR
- St. Padre Pio Parish — Nagtipunan, QUIRINO
- St. Padre Pio of Pietrlcina Parish — Alcala, CAGAYAN
- Padre Pio Parish — Zamboanga City, IX
- Parrocchia S. Pio X al Sodo
- St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Parish — Roxas City, CAPIZ
- St. Padre Pio Parish — CAR
- São Pio X — Goiânia, GO
- Paróquia São Pio X — SE
- Parafia Piotrkowice — Piotrkowice
- Campion College Chapel — Regina, SK
Sources