16/06/2026
PADRE PIO WAS CANONIZED ON THIS DAY, 24 YEARS AGO
Twenty-four years ago, a half million people crowded into St. Peter’s Square as Pope John Paul II canonized Padre Pio, born as Francesco Forgione, calling his life a witness to the “glory of the cross.”
The pontiff said that the life and mission of the Capuchin friar “proves that difficulties and sorrows, if accepted out of love, can be transformed into a privileged way of holiness, which opens onto the horizons of a greater good, known only to the Lord. Is it not, precisely, the ‘glory of the cross’ that shines above all in Padre Pio? How timely is the spirituality of the cross lived by the humble Capuchin of Pietrelcina. Our time needs to rediscover the value of the cross in order to open the heart to hope."
Padre Pio was known for his suffering, humility, and miracles. He was born in Pietrelcina, Italy, in 1887 and felt inspired to become a Capuchin friar by the age of ten. Shortly after making his solemn vows as a Franciscan and receiving his priestly ordination in 1910, he received the stigmata—Christ’s wounds present in his own flesh.
On the feast of the Assumption in 1914, Father Pio wrote: “In order to succeed in reaching our ultimate end we must follow the divine Head, who does not wish to lead the chosen soul on any way other than the one he followed; by that, I say, of abnegation and the Cross.”
Padre Pio’s reputation for holiness and ministry in the confessional began to attract huge crowds to San Giovanni Rotondo during his lifetime. He was known for his patient suffering, fervent prayer, and compassionate spiritual guidance.
Among those who traveled to San Giovanni Rotondo to have his confession heard by famous padre was a young Father Karol Wojtyła, who spent nearly a week in 1947 in the small town with the Franciscan friar. He later returned to the town as a cardinal in 1974 (after Padre Pio’s death in 1968 and again as Pope John Paul II in 1987.
At the canonization in 2002, John Paul II expressed hope that Padre Pio’s example would encourage priests to offer the Sacrament of Penance “with joy and zeal.”
“Prayer and charity, this is the most concrete synthesis of Padre Pioʼs teaching, which today is offered to everyone,” John Paul II said.
Today, we invite our readers to join us as we celebrate this celestial anniversary of Padre Pio’s canonization as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, and if you are able, to support our mission of helping those less fortunate in the name of this modern saint.
