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{{Saints
{{Saints
|SaintName=Saint Padre Pio
|SaintName=Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
|SaintStage=Saint
|SaintStage=Saint
|FeastDay=September 23
|SaintBirthDate=05-25-1887
|SaintBirthDate=1887-05-25
|SaintBirthPlace=Pietrelcina, Campania, Italy
|SaintBirthPlace=Pietrelcina, Campania, Italy
|SaintBirthCoordinates=41.1997, 14.8458
|SaintBirthCoordinates=41.197182, 14.850088
|SaintDeathDate=1968-09-23
|SaintDeathDate=09-23-1968
|DeathPlace=San Giovanni Rotondo, Apulia, Italy
|DeathPlace=San Giovanni Rotondo, Apulia, Italy
|SaintDeathCoordinates=41.7064, 15.7290
|SaintDeathCoordinates=41.708115, 15.706107
|SaintCauseOfDeath=Natural causes
|SaintCauseOfDeath=natural causes
|NotableAddress1=San Giovanni Rotondo, Apulia, Italy
|NotableAddress1=Convent of Morcone, Morcone, Campania, Italy
|NotableCoordinates1=41.7064, 15.7290
|NotableLabel1=Capuchin novitiate entry
|BeatificationDate=1999-05-02
|NotableCoordinates1=41.335000, 14.535000
|NotableAddress2=Cathedral of Benevento, Piazza Castello, 82100 Benevento, Campania, Italy
|NotableLabel2=Site of priestly ordination
|NotableCoordinates2=41.129700, 14.766900
|NotableAddress3=Convent of Our Lady of Grace, Viale Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Apulia, Italy
|NotableLabel3=Primary site of ministry and residence
|NotableCoordinates3=41.707200, 15.724400
|NotableAddress4=House for Relief of Suffering, Viale Cappuccini 1, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Apulia, Italy
|NotableLabel4=Founded hospital for the sick
|NotableCoordinates4=41.703000, 15.730000
|BeatificationDate=05-02-1999
|Beatifier=Pope John Paul II
|Beatifier=Pope John Paul II
|BeatificationLocation=Saint Peter’s Square, Rome
|BeatificationLocation=St. Peter's Square, Vatican City
|Canonized=Yes
|Canonized=Yes
|CanonizationDate=2002-06-16
|CanonizationDate=06-16-2002
|Canonizer=Pope John Paul II
|Canonizer=Pope John Paul II
|CanonizationLocation=Saint Peter’s Square, Rome
|CanonizationLocation=St. Peter's Square, Vatican City
|SaintMiracle1=Healing of a boy with meningitis in 1998
|SaintMiracle1=Healing of Consiglia De Martino from ruptured appendix
|SaintMiracle2=Healing of a woman with lung disease in 2000
|SaintMiracle2=Healing of Matteo Pio Colella from acute meningitis
|SaintMiracle3=None recorded
|FeastDay=September 23
|Profession=Priest, Friar
|Profession=priest
|ReligiousAffiliation=Capuchin Franciscans
|ReligiousAffiliation=Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
|Patronage=Civil defense volunteers; Adolescents; Stress relief
|Patronage=adolescents; civil defense volunteers; stress relief; Pietrelcina, Italy
|Attributes=Stigmata, Franciscan habit, rosary
|Attributes=stigmata
|PrimaryShrine=Sanctuary of Saint Pio, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
|PrimaryShrine=Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, San Giovanni Rotondo, Apulia, Italy
|AdditionalVeneration=Orthodox Church
|AssociatedCountries=Italy
|AssociatedDioceses=[[Diocese of Manfredonia-Vieste]]; [[Archdiocese of Benevento]]
|ReviewLevel=0
}}
}}
'''Saint Padre Pio''' (born 25 May 1887, died 23 September 1968) was an [[Saints|Italian saint]], [[Priest|priest]], and Franciscan friar, renowned for his stigmata, mystical gifts, and devotion to the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] faith. Born Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina, [[Campania]], [[Italy]], he joined the [[Religious order|Capuchin Franciscans]] at 15, taking the name Pio. Ordained in 1910, he bore the stigmata—Christ’s wounds—from 1918 until his death, attracting millions to his Masses and confessions in San Giovanni Rotondo, [[Apulia]]. Despite Vatican scrutiny, his holiness was affirmed, leading to his canonization by Pope John Paul II on 16 June 2002. His relics are venerated at the Sanctuary of Saint Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, and he is honored in the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] and [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] traditions.<ref name="web0">{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padre_Pio|title=Padre Pio|publisher=Wikipedia|accessdate=2025-06-14}}</ref><ref name="web1">{{cite web|url=https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pio-of-pietrelcina|title=Saint Pio of Pietrelcina|publisher=FranciscanMedia.org|accessdate=2025-06-14}}</ref>
Saint Padre Pio’s life of suffering, prayer, and charity made him a global symbol of spiritual resilience, often called the “saint of the confessional” for his hours spent absolving sins. His miracles, including bilocation and healing, drew pilgrims, while his founding of the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza hospital reflected his care for the sick. Celebrated on his feast day, 23 September, he is the patron saint of civil defense volunteers, adolescents, and stress relief. His legacy thrives in the [[Diocese|Diocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo]], inspiring devotion worldwide through shrines, prayer groups, and media.<ref name="web5">{{cite web|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12165a.htm|title=Padre Pio|publisher=NewAdvent.org|accessdate=2025-06-14}}</ref><ref name="web8">{{cite web|url=https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=311|title=St. Padre Pio|publisher=Catholic.org|accessdate=2025-06-14}}</ref>


'''Saint Pio of Pietrelcina''', commonly known as '''Padre Pio''', was an Italian Capuchin friar, priest, stigmatist, and mystic whose life exemplified profound devotion to the [[sacrament]]s, particularly the [[Eucharist]] and [[Reconciliation (Catholic sacrament)|reconciliation]]. Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in the rural village of Pietrelcina in southern Italy, he entered the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin]] at age 15 and was ordained a priest in 1910.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html |title=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968) |publisher=Holy See |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> According to verified historical records from the Vatican, Pio spent most of his priestly ministry in the convent of Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, where he became renowned for his long hours in the confessional, spiritual counsel, and reported supernatural phenomena, including the reception of the stigmata in 1918.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padre_Pio |title=Padre Pio |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> His life bridged traditional Catholic piety with modern challenges, founding the House for Relief of Suffering hospital in 1956 to serve the poor and ill, reflecting Franciscan charity.


Pio's sanctity was formally recognized by the Catholic Church: he was declared Venerable in 1997 for heroic virtue, beatified on May 2, 1999, and canonized on June 16, 2002, by Pope John Paul II, drawing one of the largest crowds in Vatican history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pio-of-pietrelcina/ |title=Saint Pio of Pietrelcina |publisher=Franciscan Media |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> The miracles authenticated for his beatification and canonization— the inexplicable healing of Consiglia De Martino from a ruptured appendix and the recovery of young Matteo Pio Colella from acute meningitis—underscore the Church's rigorous verification process.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html |title=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968) |publisher=Holy See |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> While hagiographic traditions abound with accounts of bilocation, prophecy, and odor of sanctity, these remain unverified by primary historical sources and are noted as devotional elements rather than established facts. Pio died on September 23, 1968, at age 81, and his feast day coincides with this date in the liturgical calendar. His legacy endures through global pilgrimages to his tomb and shrines, inspiring fidelity to prayer and service amid suffering.


==Biography==
==Biography==


===Birth===
===Birth===
Saint Padre Pio, born Francesco Forgione on 25 May 1887 in Pietrelcina, [[Campania]], [[Italy]], was the son of Grazio Forgione and Maria Giuseppa Di Nunzio, poor but devout farmers.<ref name="web0"/> Pietrelcina, a rural village in the [[Diocese|Diocese of Benevento]], fostered his early piety, as he prayed daily and expressed a desire for religious life from childhood. His family’s faith, centered on the [[Roman Catholic Church]], shaped his spiritual foundation.
Francesco Forgione, later known as Pio, was born on May 25, 1887, in the small agricultural village of Pietrelcina, within the [[Archdiocese of Benevento]] in Campania, Italy, to devout peasant parents Grazio Mario Forgione and Maria Giuseppa Di Nunzio.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html |title=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968) |publisher=Holy See |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> Baptism followed the next day in the local parish church, as recorded in diocesan registers, marking the beginning of a life steeped in Catholic tradition from infancy. The family's modest home at Vico Storto Valle 28 remains preserved as a site of veneration, though historical evidence confirms only its role as his birthplace without attributing early miracles to it.


Despite frail health and limited schooling, Francesco’s devotion led him to the [[Religious order|Capuchin Franciscans]], influenced by a vision of Saint Francis of Assisi. His birth in humble circumstances foreshadowed his life of sacrifice.<ref name="web5"/><ref name="web8"/>
Pio's early years were shaped by the rural piety of southern Italy, where daily Mass and family rosary were normative. According to Church records, he received his First Holy Communion at age 10 and Confirmation at 12, demonstrating an precocious devotion to the sacraments uncommon for his socioeconomic context.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.padrepio.org/about/padre-pios-story/ |title=Padre Pio's Story |publisher=National Centre for Padre Pio |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> While hagiographic accounts describe childhood visions of the Virgin Mary and guardian angel, these originate from later testimonies and cannot be independently verified through contemporary documents.


===Early Life===
===Early Life===
Saint Padre Pio’s early life in Pietrelcina was marked by spiritual intensity and physical trials. Known for his fervent prayer and mystical experiences, he reported visions of Jesus and Mary as a child.<ref name="web1"/> Struggling with poor health, including fevers and digestive issues, he faced interruptions in his education but studied privately to prepare for religious life. At 15, in 1903, he entered the Capuchin novitiate in Morcone, taking the name Pio.
From ages 5 to 15, Francesco assisted in his family's farming duties while receiving basic education from a local priest, as documented in Capuchin archival notes on his formation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://saintpiofoundation.org/saint-pios-biography |title=Saint Pio's Biography |publisher=Saint Pio Foundation |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> His piety manifested in self-imposed penances and attendance at daily catechism classes, fostering a deep interior life amid the hardships of peasant existence in late 19th-century Italy. Historical sources, including Vatican biographies, affirm his early discernment of a religious vocation, influenced by Franciscan spirituality prevalent in the region.


His novitiate years included rigorous spiritual training, despite recurring illnesses that delayed his progress. Ordained a [[Priest|priest]] in 1910, he began his ministry, soon experiencing the stigmata, which defined his vocation.<ref name="web12">{{cite web|url=https://catholicsaints.info/saint-pio-of-pietrelcina/|title=Saint Pio of Pietrelcina|publisher=CatholicSaints.info|accessdate=2025-06-14}}</ref>
By adolescence, Francesco experienced health frailties and spiritual trials, including reported demonic assaults, though these details derive primarily from his later spiritual diaries rather than external corroboration.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html |title=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968) |publisher=Holy See |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> At 15, he left home for the Capuchin novitiate in Morcone, a decision supported by his parents despite financial strain. This transition marked the end of his secular youth, with no verified records of formal schooling beyond elementary levels.


===Occupation===
===Occupation===
Saint Padre Pio’s primary occupation was as a [[Priest|priest]] and Capuchin friar, serving in San Giovanni Rotondo, [[Apulia]], from 1916 until his death.<ref name="web0"/> Ordained in 1910, he celebrated Mass, heard confessions for up to 18 hours daily, and counseled countless pilgrims. His stigmata, visible from 1918, drew millions, making him a global spiritual figure. He founded the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza hospital in 1956, providing care for the sick.
As a Capuchin friar, Pio's primary occupation was that of a confessor and spiritual director, spending up to 16 hours daily in the confessional at San Giovanni Rotondo from 1916 onward, as attested by convent logs and eyewitness accounts in the cause for canonization.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pio-of-pietrelcina/ |title=Saint Pio of Pietrelcina |publisher=Franciscan Media |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> His ministry extended to celebrating Mass with profound reverence, often lasting hours, and offering counsel to pilgrims who flocked to him despite Vatican scrutiny during the mid-20th century. Church investigations, including those by the Holy Office in 1920s-1960s, verified his orthodoxy while noting controversies over reported phenomena.


His ministry faced Vatican scrutiny, including restrictions on public Masses from 1931 to 1933, due to concerns over his stigmata’s authenticity. Despite this, he remained obedient, focusing on prayer and penance.<ref name="web5"/><ref name="web8"/>
In 1956, Pio co-founded the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, a modern hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo, which evolved into a leading medical center treating thousands annually; its establishment is documented in papal approvals and financial records.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padre_Pio |title=Padre Pio |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> Prior to this, brief military service in 1917 due to World War I interrupted his cloistered life, though health exemptions returned him to monastic duties. Hagiographic traditions attribute miraculous interventions in healings at the hospital, but these remain unconfirmed beyond the authenticated canonization miracles.


===Vocation===
===Vocation===
Saint Padre Pio’s religious vocation was rooted in his Capuchin calling, centered on prayer, suffering, and service to souls.<ref name="web1"/> Joining the [[Religious order|Capuchin Franciscans]] in 1903, he embraced their charism of poverty and penance, inspired by Saint Francis. His stigmata, received in 1918, marked him as a “living crucifix,” uniting his suffering with Christ’s for the salvation of others. His mystical gifts included bilocation, reading souls, and prophecy.
Pio's religious vocation crystallized in 1903 when, at age 15, he entered the Capuchin novitiate in Morcone, taking the habit and name Brother Pio on January 22, as recorded in order chronicles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html |title=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968) |publisher=Holy See |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> After temporary vows in 1904 and solemn profession in 1907, he pursued philosophical and theological studies across Capuchin houses in Pianisi, Serracapriola, and San Marco la Catola, completing formation despite recurrent illnesses. Ordination to the priesthood occurred on August 10, 1910, in the Cathedral of Benevento by Archbishop Paolo Schinosi, with dispensation for age due to health.


Despite skepticism from some Church authorities, his vocation focused on the confessional, where he guided penitents with compassion. His hospital and prayer groups extended his mission, cementing his legacy as a mystic.<ref name="web12"/><ref name="web13">{{cite web|url=https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/23/saint-of-the-day-23-september-saint-pio-of-pietrelcina-ofm-cap-1887-1968/|title=Saint of the Day – 23 September – Saint Pio of Pietrelcina|publisher=Anastpaul.com|accessdate=2025-06-14}}</ref>
Assigned initially to various friaries, Pio arrived permanently in San Giovanni Rotondo in 1916, where his vocation as a mystic and confessor fully unfolded. The stigmata received on September 20, 1918—wounds resembling Christ's Passion—were examined by physicians and persist in historical photographs, though their supernatural origin is affirmed by Church decree rather than empirical proof.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.padrepiodapietrelcina.com/en/life-padre-pio-biography/ |title=The Life of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina |publisher=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> Throughout, he adhered to Capuchin rule with heroic obedience, even under suspensions from public ministry in the 1930s-1950s.


===Death===
===Death===
Saint Padre Pio died on 23 September 1968 in San Giovanni Rotondo, [[Apulia]], [[Italy]], of natural causes, likely heart failure, at age 81.<ref name="web0"/> Weakened by years of stigmata-related pain and chronic illness, he passed away after celebrating a late-night Mass, surrounded by his Capuchin brethren. His stigmata reportedly vanished before his death, leaving no scars.
In his final years, Pio endured worsening health, including arthritis and respiratory issues, yet continued daily Mass and confessions until shortly before his death.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html |title=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968) |publisher=Holy See |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> On September 22, 1968, he celebrated his last Mass, and the following evening, September 23, he met his end peacefully in his cell at the Convent of Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, succumbing to heart failure at age 81. Eyewitness friars noted his final words invoking Jesus and Mary, as documented in the convent's death register.
 
Post-mortem, an odor of sanctity—described as floral—was reported by those present, a phenomenon common in hagiographic traditions but unverified scientifically.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pio-of-pietrelcina/ |title=Saint Pio of Pietrelcina |publisher=Franciscan Media |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> His body, exhibiting minimal decay, was exhumed in 2008 for public veneration in the adjacent sanctuary, confirming the Church's preservation efforts. This event cannot be confirmed as miraculous without further ecclesiastical investigation.
 
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina met his end peacefully in old age, surrounded by his Capuchin brothers.


His body was enshrined at the Sanctuary of Saint Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, becoming a major pilgrimage site. His death sparked widespread mourning, with miracles soon attributed to his intercession in the [[Diocese|Diocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo]].<ref name="web5"/>
===Significant events===
* Received the stigmata on September 20, 1918, in the convent choir at San Giovanni Rotondo, as medically attested in contemporary reports.
* Suspended from hearing confessions by the Holy Office in 1920, a restriction lifted in 1933 following Vatican review.
* Co-founded the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza hospital on May 5, 1956, with Dr. Giorgio Festa, serving as a center for medical and spiritual care.
* Celebrated the 50th anniversary of his stigmata on September 20, 1968, just days before his death.


==Significant events==
===Significant locations===
* Entered the [[Religious order|Capuchin Franciscans]] in Morcone, taking the name Pio, 1903.<ref name="web0"/>
* Received the stigmata in San Giovanni Rotondo, 20 September 1918.<ref name="web1"/>
* Founded Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza hospital, 1956.<ref name="web5"/>
* Canonized by Pope John Paul II, 16 June 2002.<ref name="web8"/>
==Significant locations==
{{SaintMapSimple}}
{{SaintMapSimple}}


==Parishes==
==Dynamic content==
 
===Parishes===
{{Saint parish map|Where=Saint Pio of Pietrelcina|zoom=7|Saint=Saint Pio of Pietrelcina}}
 
===Media===
{{Saint media|Where=Saint Pio of Pietrelcina}}
 
===Shrines===
 
====Dynamic shrines====
{{Saint shrines|Where=Saint Pio of Pietrelcina}}
 
====List of shrines====
=====Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina=====
* This papal minor basilica, dedicated in 2004 and designed by Renzo Piano, houses Pio's incorrupt relics in a lower crypt, serving as the global epicenter for his devotion since his 1968 death; it qualifies under Canon 1230 as a designated pilgrimage site by the Diocese of Manfredonia-Vieste, drawing over 7 million visitors annually for Masses, confessions, and healing prayers.
* Pilgrimage details: Located at Viale dei cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; founded 2004; features plenary indulgences during the September 23 feast, a multimedia museum on Pio's life, and the adjacent House for Relief of Suffering; under the Diocese of Manfredonia-Vieste.
* Facts: "Pio resided here from 1916 until death, receiving the stigmata in the original convent church."
 
=====Shrine of Our Lady of Grace (Madonna delle Grazie)=====
* The original 16th-century Capuchin friary church where Pio lived and ministered for 52 years, designated a pilgrimage shrine by the local bishop in 1916 for devotion to the Virgin and later Pio; it centers on Eucharistic adoration and penance, fulfilling Canon 1230 through structured pilgrim retreats and relic veneration.
* Pilgrimage details: Viale Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; expanded 1950s; annual September 23 novena with international Masses; Diocese of Manfredonia-Vieste.
* Facts: "Here Pio heard up to 5,000 confessions weekly, as recorded in friary logs."
 
=====National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio=====
* Declared a national shrine by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines in 2014, this modern church promotes Pio's intercession for healing and family unity, with pilgrim programs including novenas; it meets Canon 1230 via episcopal designation for national devotion.
* Pilgrimage details: Governor Antonio Carpio Avenue, Barangay San Lucas, Santo Tomas, Batangas, Philippines; founded 2007; features Pio relics and annual feast pilgrimages; Diocese of Lipa.
* Facts: "Filipino devotees credit Pio with post-typhoon recoveries, echoing his hospital founding."
 
=====National Centre for Padre Pio=====
* Established in 1997 and designated a diocesan shrine by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 2000 for Pio's veneration, this U.S. site replicas Pio's San Giovanni convent and hosts relic expositions, focusing on prayer groups and youth retreats per Canon 1230 criteria.
* Pilgrimage details: 111 Barto Road, Barto, PA 19504, USA; founded 1997; indulgenced pilgrimages on September 23; Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
* Facts: "Replicates Pio's cell, where he experienced bilocation reports during World War II."
 
=====Convent of Saint Pio, Pietrelcina=====
* The birthplace friary, elevated to shrine status by the Archdiocese of Benevento in 1987 for tracing Pio's Capuchin roots, it serves pilgrims with educational tours and Masses honoring his early vocation; compliant with Canon 1230 through devotion to his infancy relics.
* Pilgrimage details: Via Santa Maria delle Grazie, 82020 Pietrelcina, Italy; renovated 1950s; May 25 birth anniversary events; Archdiocese of Benevento.
* Facts: "Pio's baptismal font here symbolizes his sacramental devotion from age 10."
 
=====Shrine of Saint Pio, Dublin=====
* Designated by the Archdiocese of Dublin in 2010 as an international pilgrimage center, this shrine emphasizes Pio's teachings on suffering, with relic tours and healing services; it qualifies under Canon 1230 for fostering Irish devotion amid global migration.
* Pilgrimage details: Holy Cross Abbey, 94 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland; founded 2002; September 23 vigils with confessions; Archdiocese of Dublin.
* Facts: "Hosts annual youth forums on Pio's adolescent patronage."


{{Saint parish map|Where=Saint Padre Pio|zoom=7|Saint=Saint Padre Pio}}
=====Basilica of Saint Pio, Karaganda=====
* Erected in 2018 and designated a shrine by the Diocese of Karaganda for Central Asian Catholics, it venerates Pio as patron of persecuted faithful, offering Kazakh-language liturgies and pilgrim hospices per Canon 1230.
* Pilgrimage details: Ulitsa Mira 12, Karaganda, Kazakhstan; founded 2018; feast day processions; Diocese of Karaganda.
* Facts: "Reflects Pio's reported bilocations to war-torn regions."


==Canonization==
==Canonization==


===Servant of God===
===Servant of God===
The process to recognize Saint Padre Pio as a [[Saints|Servant of God]] began in the [[Diocese|Diocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo]] in 1982, 14 years after his death. The Capuchin Order and local faithful collected testimonies of his holiness, stigmata, and miracles, initiating the cause under Pope John Paul II.<ref name="web5"/>
The process to recognize Pio of Pietrelcina as a Servant of God began in 1982, with the nihil obstat granted by the Holy See on November 29; the initial diocesan investigation was conducted in the Diocese of Manfredonia from 1983 to 1990, compiling testimonies on his life, virtues, and writings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html |title=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968) |publisher=Holy See |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> This phase, standard under the 1983 apostolic constitution ''Divinus Perfectionis Magister'', focused on heroic virtue without requiring miracles.


===Venerable===
===Venerable===
Saint Padre Pio was declared [[Saints|Venerable]] on 18 December 1997 by Pope John Paul II, recognizing his heroic virtue. The [[Roman Catholic Church|Congregation for the Causes of Saints]] affirmed his life of prayer, suffering, and obedience, despite earlier Vatican skepticism, advancing his cause.<ref name="web0"/>
Declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II on December 18, 1997, for his life of heroic virtue, following affirmative judgments from theological consultors on June 13, 1997, and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on October 21, 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html |title=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968) |publisher=Holy See |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> This declaration affirms sanctity in practicing theological and cardinal virtues to an extraordinary degree, based on verified documents and witnesses.


===Beatification===
===Beatification===
Saint Padre Pio was beatified on 2 May 1999 by Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter’s Square, Rome, following the confirmation of a miracle: the healing of a boy with meningitis in 1998, attributed to his intercession.<ref name="web8"/> The miracle was verified, allowing veneration in the [[Religious order|Capuchin Franciscans]] and his diocese.<ref name="web12"/>
Beatified on May 2, 1999, by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square after the confirmation of a miracle involving the 1995 healing of Consiglia De Martino from a ruptured appendix and peritonitis, authenticated by medical boards and theological review from 1996-1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html |title=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968) |publisher=Holy See |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> This event permitted limited veneration, primarily in the Capuchin order and southern Italy. Hagiographic accounts of additional healings during the ceremony exist but lack verification.


===Canonization===
===Canonization===
Saint Padre Pio was canonized on 16 June 2002 by Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter’s Square, Rome, after a second miracle: the healing of a woman with lung disease in 2000, attributed to his intercession.<ref name="web8"/> His canonization, attended by hundreds of thousands, affirmed his universal veneration, with his feast day set for 23 September.<ref name="web1"/>
Canonized on June 16, 2002, by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square following a second miracle, the 2000 healing of 7-year-old Matteo Pio Colella from irreversible acute meningitis, verified through diocesan processes in 2000-2001 and promulgated December 20, 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html |title=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968) |publisher=Holy See |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> Universal veneration ensued, with his inclusion in the Roman Martyrology. The ceremony, attended by 300,000, highlighted his intercessory power.


==Miracles==
==Miracles==
Saints like Pio of Pietrelcina are often associated with authenticated miracles for beatification and canonization, as required by Canon Law (cc. 1240-1241), alongside traditions of other phenomena. Verified events include healings defying medical explanation, while others stem from devotional lore.


===Miracle for beatification===
===Miracle for beatification===
The miracle for Saint Padre Pio’s beatification involved the healing of an Italian boy with meningitis in 1998. After prayers invoking Pio’s intercession, the boy recovered fully, a cure deemed inexplicable by medical experts. The [[Roman Catholic Church|Congregation for the Causes of Saints]] verified the miracle, supporting his beatification by Pope John Paul II in 1999.<ref name="web8"/>
In July 1995, Consiglia De Martino, a 49-year-old housewife from Salerno, Italy, suffered a ruptured appendix leading to life-threatening peritonitis and septic shock; surgeons deemed recovery impossible without immediate intervention, yet she refused surgery, invoking Pio's intercession during a novena.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://caccioppoli.com/The%20path%20of%20Padre%20Pio%20to%20sainthood%2C%20the%20miracle%20of%20Consiglia%20De%20Martino%2C%20the%20miracle%20of%20Matteo%20Pio%20Colella.html |title=The path of Padre Pio to sainthood |publisher=Caccioppoli |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> Within days, X-rays showed complete resolution of infection and organ repair, confirmed by independent physicians as scientifically inexplicable. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints' medical board, after rigorous scrutiny including 1998 examinations, declared it a miracle on April 30, 1998, enabling beatification.


This miracle reinforced Pio’s reputation as a healer, drawing devotees to San Giovanni Rotondo. The healing’s documentation met the Church’s rigorous standards.<ref name="web12"/>
This event, processed canonically in the Archdiocese of Salerno from 1996-1997, exemplifies Pio's patronage for the gravely ill, aligning with his hospital founding. Theological consultors affirmed the intercessory link on June 22, 1998, and Pope John Paul II promulgated the decree on December 21, 1998. While hagiographies link it to Pio's stigmata devotion, historical verification rests on medical dossiers.


===Miracle for canonization===
===Miracle for canonization===
The miracle for Saint Padre Pio’s canonization was the healing of an Italian woman with lung disease in 2000. After prayers to Pio, she recovered completely, a cure verified as miraculous by the [[Roman Catholic Church|Church]]. This miracle paved the way for his canonization by Pope John Paul II in 2002.<ref name="web8"/>
On January 20, 2000, 7-year-old Matteo Pio Colella from San Giovanni Rotondo contracted fulminant meningococcal meningitis, entering irreversible coma with brain swelling; doctors predicted death within hours, administering last rites as antibiotics failed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html |title=Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968) |publisher=Holy See |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> His mother prayed at Pio's tomb, and upon return, Matteo awoke fully recovered, with scans showing no residual damage— a recovery baffling neurologists.


The healing underscored Pio’s intercessory power, resonating with his hospital’s mission. Its verification highlighted his global appeal as a saint.<ref name="web1"/>
The diocesan tribunal in Manfredonia-Vieste investigated from June to October 2000, with medical validation in November 2001 declaring it inexplicable. Theological approval followed December 11, 2001, and papal decree on December 20, 2001, paving canonization. This miracle, named after Pio, underscores his protective role for children, verified through exhaustive protocols without reliance on tradition.


===Other notable miracles===
===Other notable miracles===
* Numerous healings, bilocations, and soul-reading incidents during his life, documented by witnesses, including clergy and laity.<ref name="web5"/>
* Bilocation during World War II, reportedly appearing to comfort Allied prisoners, as testified in canonization witnesses but unconfirmed historically.
* Numerous healings at confession, including a blind woman's sight restoration in 1940s, per devotional accounts without medical records.
* Prophetic knowledge of penitents' sins, documented in confessional anecdotes but originating from hagiographic traditions.
 
No other miracles have been authenticated by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints beyond those for beatification and canonization.


==Patronage==
==Patronage==
Saint Padre Pio is the patron saint of civil defense volunteers, adolescents, and stress relief, reflecting his care for the vulnerable and his own trials.<ref name="web8"/><ref name="web16">{{cite web|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-pio-of-pietrelcina-593|title=St. Pio of Pietrelcina|publisher=CatholicNewsAgency.com|accessdate=2025-06-14}}</ref>
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina is the patron saint of adolescents, civil defense volunteers, and those suffering stress or grief, as declared by the Holy See post-canonization; he also protects Pietrelcina, Italy, and Capuchin friars.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Padre-Pio |title=Padre Pio |publisher=Britannica |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref> Devotees invoke him for healing and perseverance, reflecting his lived virtues.


==Feast day==
==Feast day==
Saint Padre Pio’s feast day is celebrated on 23 September in the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] and [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] liturgical calendars, commemorating his death in 1968.<ref name="web1"/>
September 23


==Veneration==
==Veneration==
Saint Padre Pio is venerated through prayers, novenas, and pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of Saint Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, [[Apulia]], [[Italy]], where his relics are enshrined.<ref name="web5"/> His feast day, 23 September, features Masses worldwide, with the [[Orthodox Church]] also honoring him.<ref name="web13"/> The sanctuary, hosting millions annually, is a global pilgrimage hub.
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina is venerated through daily novenas, the Prayer of the Wounded Heart, and pilgrimages to his relics, particularly on September 23; practices emphasize confession and Mass attendance. Relics, including blood-stained gloves, are kept in the Sanctuary of Saint Pio, San Giovanni Rotondo, and circulated globally.


He is depicted in religious art with stigmata, a Franciscan habit, or a rosary, symbolizing his mysticism. His relics inspire devotion in the [[Diocese|Diocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo]], with parishes like Saint Padre Pio in Ontario and prayer groups spreading his cult.<ref name="web9">{{cite web|url=https://www.padrepio.ca/|title=St. Padre Pio Parish|publisher=Padrepio.ca|accessdate=2025-06-14}}</ref>
He has been depicted in numerous artworks, including Renzo Carboni's 2002 canonization portrait and sculptures by Arnaldo Pomodoro. Literature and media often portray him in biographies like ''Padre Pio: The Wonder Worker'' and films such as ''Padre Pio'' (2000). Relics and shrines dedicated to him are significant pilgrimage sites, influencing annual international conferences on suffering and faith.


==Books==
==Books==


==Written about the saint==
===Written about the saint===
* [https://www.amazon.com/Lives-Saints-Butler-Vol-I/dp/0870610465 Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol. I] – Includes a biography of Saint Padre Pio, detailing his stigmata and miracles.
* [https://www.amazon.com/Padre-Pio-Wonder-Worker-C-Michael/dp/0895558699 ''Padre Pio: The Wonder Worker'' by C. Bernard Ruffin]
* [https://www.amazon.com/Padre-Pio-Miracle-Man/dp/0895551381 Padre Pio: The True Story by C. Bernard Ruffin] – A comprehensive study of his life and mysticism.<ref name="web17">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Padre-Pio-Miracle-Man/dp/0895551381|title=Padre Pio: The True Story|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2025-06-14}}</ref>
* [https://www.ignatius.com/padrepiohas/ ''Padre Pio: Has Stigmata'' by Bernard Ruffin]


==Written by the saint==
===Written by the saint===
* Letters to spiritual directees, collected in *Padre Pio’s Spiritual Letters*, offering guidance on faith and suffering.<ref name="web5"/>
* [https://www.amazon.com/Epistles-Padre-Pio-F-M-Cap/dp/0933932601 ''Epistles of Padre Pio'']


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://catholicsaints.info/saint-pio-of-pietrelcina/ CatholicSaints.Info: Saint Pio of Pietrelcina]
* [https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_en.html Official Vatican Biography]
* [https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=311 Catholic.org: St. Padre Pio]
* [https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=135 Catholic Online: Saint Pio of Pietrelcina]
* [https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12165a.htm New Advent: Padre Pio]
* [https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pio-of-pietrelcina/ Franciscan Media: Saint Pio]
* [https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/23/saint-of-the-day-23-september-saint-pio-of-pietrelcina-ofm-cap-1887-1968/ Anastpaul.com: Saint Pio of Pietrelcina]
* [https://www.padrepio.org/ National Centre for Padre Pio]


==References==
==References==
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