Today the Catholic Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, born Francesco Forgione, a 20th-century Capuchin priest. Having lived for many years in the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio is one of the most beloved and venerated mystics of contemporary history. He bore the stigmata of the Passion of Christ on his body for fifty years, attracting vast crowds of the faithful in search of spiritual comfort. An exceptional confessor, capable of peering into hearts with the light of divine mercy, he left an immense spiritual legacy, which also culminated in the founding of the ‘Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza’ (Home for the Relief of Suffering), an avant-garde hospital born from faith and supported by Providence. His figure continues to inspire millions of believers in their journey of prayer and love for the suffering.
