Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
S.Pius Pietrelcina
0923 Pastors Memorial
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Padre Pio, in the world Francesco Forgione, was born in Pietrelcina, in the diocese of Benevento, on 25th May 1887. Having entered as a cleric in the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor on 6th January 1903, he was ordained a priest on 10th August 1910, in the cathedral of Benevento. On 28th July 1916, he came to San Giovanni Rotondo, on the Gargano, where, except for a few brief interruptions, he remained until his death that took place on 23rd September 1968. On the morning of Friday 20th September 1918, praying before the crucifix in the choir of the old church, he received the gift of the stigmata, that did not heal but bled for half a century. During his life he founded the “Prayer Groups” and a modern hospital, to which he gave the name “the Home for Relief of Suffering”. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 2nd May 1999 and was canonized by him on 16th June 2002.