Church to celebrate feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

The Church celebrates the feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina on September 23.

Commonly known as Padre Pio, the saint was a Capuchin Franciscan friar, priest, and mystic. He was born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy. He entered the Capuchin Friars Minor as a novice at age 15 and was ordained a priest in 1910. After moving to a rural friary near San Giovanni Rotondo in 1916, he lived there for over 50 years until his death on September 23, 1968.

Padre Pio is recognized for receiving the stigmata, the visible wounds of Christ, while praying in a church on September 20, 1918. He is also noted for his devotion to his guardian angel and reports of bilocation. His tomb is located in the Sanctuary of St. Mary Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.