Saint Pio was born as Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina in the Archdiocese of Benevento. His parents were Grazio Forgione and Maria Giuseppa De Nunzio. At the age of sixteen, he joined the Capuchin Friars Minor novitiate in Morcone and took the name of Brother Pio. After his ordination as priest, he became popularly known as Padre Pio. He also became famous for his stigmata, bearing the five wound of Jesus Christ. Saint Pio would have desired to suffer in secret, but by 1919, the news about his stigmata had spread not only in the Christian community but in the secular world. Many doctors examined the fragrant wounds in Saint Pio’s hands, feet, and side, but no scientific or medical explanation could account for it.
With his holiness and devotion, Saint Padre Pio became a symbol of faith and hope among Catholics. It was also known that he had several other spiritual gifts such as the gift of healing, levitation, bilocation, performing miracles, the gift of tongue, the ability to read hearts, and the gift of conversions in the sacrament of reconciliation. At the time of his death on September 23, 1968, Saint Pio was known internationally and seen as a spiritual father by many faithfuls.
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us!
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