23/09/2026
A pleasant day for all my friends!
Today, September 23, is Padre Pio's feast day and death anniversary.
Padre Pio, in the world is **Francesco Forgione**, and was an Italian Capuchin friar, mystic, and one of the most beloved Saints of the 20th century.
He is known as **Pio of Pietrelcina**, born to peasant farmers in southern Italy, and lived as **Padre Pio** and **Father Pius** throughout his religious life.
His life timeline
May 25, 1887: Born Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina, Italy. Sickly as a child, he reported visions and ecstasies early.
1903: Entered the Capuchin Order at age 16.
1910: Ordained as a priest.
1915-1918: Served intermittently in the Italian army medical corps due to poor health.
1916: Moved to the friary in San Giovanni Rotondo โ he would live there the rest of his life.
September 20, 1918: While praying in thanksgiving before a crucifix after Mass, he received the stigmata.
1956: Opened **Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (House for the Relief of Suffering)** โ a big hospital he built for the poor and sick.
1959: A larger church was added to accommodate the millions of pilgrims coming to see him.
September 23, 1968: Died at age 81. Over 100,000 people attended his funeral.
The Stigmata and his spiritual gifts
Padre Pio was the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Church โ he bore the wounds of Christ on his hands, feet, and side from 1918 until his death. Upon his death, the wounds were no longer visible with no scarring.
Beyond stigmata, he was renowned for gifts that even modern medical science could not explain:
Bilocation โ being seen in two places at once, often to comfort someone sick or dying
Reading of hearts / souls โ knowing people's sins in confession without them saying it
Celestial perfumeโ a distinct scent of roses, violets often smelled where he had been
Miraculous healings and conversions
โProphecy and gift of tonguesโ
He would spend up to 16-18 hours a day hearing confessions. People lined up for days just to confess to him.
Controversies
The Vatican conducted at least 12 investigations into him over the years and at times forbade him from saying Mass publicly or hearing confessions. Restrictions were eased in the 1930s, and ultimately Pope Paul VI dismissed all allegations against him. The Church was very careful because of how famous he became.
Sainthood
Beatified: May 2, 1999 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized: June 16, 2002 by Pope John Paul II โ who had met Padre Pio as a young priest in 1947
Feast Day: September 23
He is venerated as **Patron Saint of Healing & Suffering, Civil defense volunteers, and Forgiveness.**
Famous teachings
His most famous line, youโve probably seen on prayer cards:
Other core teachings:
1. Pray the Rosary daily.
2. Confess often, go to Mass.
3. See Christ in suffering โ offer your pain for others.
Padre Pio in the Philippines
Filipinos have huge devotion to him.
**The main shrine:** The **Parish and International Shrine of Saint Padre Pio** in Barangay San Pedro, Sto. Tomas, Batangas. The Vatican elevated it to international shrine status per decree issued by the Dicastery for Evangelization on May 25, the 139th birth anniversary of St. Padre Pio. Itโs now only the second international shrine in the Philippines after Antipolo.
It was established as a parish in 2003, its main church dedicated on September 23, 2013, declared a national shrine in 2015 and elevated to international status in 2026.
In Cebu: We have smaller shrines โ the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Padre Pio in Tisa, Cebu City and chapels in Mandaue and Danao. Many Cebuanos do pilgrimage to Batangas for his feast day novena.
