Filipino Catholics will again have the chance to venerate the relic of St. Pio of Pietrelcina which arrived in Manila on July 31.
Fr. Gian Maria Di Giorgio, an Italian priest, Sister Veronica and Sister Lea are accompanying the sacred relic during the visits to various parishes in the country starting Aug. 3 until Sept. 8, said Miriam Felipe of the St. Pio of Pietrelcina Chapel in Libis, Quezon City on Sunday.
Escorting them during their more than a month tour are Angie de Castro and Archie Rodriguez of SPPC.
The last time St. Pio’s relic was brought to the Philippines was in 2015.
During his lifetime, Padre Pio, according to religious documents, became famous worldwide for his stigmata boring the wounds of Christ which he endured for 50 long years without complaint but joy in his heart for being given the rare opportunity to feel the suffering of Christ when He was crucified on the Cross more than 2,000 years ago.
Padre Pio’s stigmata generated much interest and controversy around the world.
Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, he was given the name of Pius or Pio in Italian when he joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin.
When he was still alive, there were reports that Padre Pio was said to “have had the gift of reading souls, the ability to bilocate, among other supernatural phenomena,” communicated with angels, and healed those who were sick.
Padre Pio died on Sept. 23, 1968. He was beatified in 1999 and canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II.
As he predicted himself when he was alive, St. Pio’s name continued to reverberate across the globe to date. “I will make more noise after I’m dead than when I’m alive. My true mission will begin after my death,” Padre Pio once said.
When he was still alive, he would levitate while attending Mass; and all the wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ when He was crucified would appear in the same parts of Padre Pio’s body. He made miracles during his lifetime.
