Introduction to Padre Pio
(Click on pictures)

Padre Pio
Canonized Saint June 16, 2002 Rome, Italy by Pope John Paul II.
Padre Pio was an Italian Catholic priest born in 1887, and died in 1968. What attracted my attention to this priest was that at the age of thirty, he received what is called a Stigmata, which consists of five wounds. One in each hand, one in each foot, and one wound in his chest which seemed to emulate the wounds of Christ. He bore these wounds for 50 years until he died at age 80. I must mention four very interesting facts here concerning the stigmata. The Catholic Church has been keeping records of all other people who had the Stigmata since the 1300s.

  Some things to ponder:

  1. There are about 320 stigmatists on record.
  2. Out of the 320, 280 of them are women, and only 40 are men. This is a ratio of 7 to 1. One would expect a 50-50 ratio.
  3. Padre Pio is the only priest who wore the Stigmata. One would think that the majority of stigmatized people would be priests.
  4. After bearing the wounds for 50 years, several days before the Padre died, the wounds completely disappeared.

  More to ponder:
It has been reported and documented by many people that Padre Pio had the following gifts:

  1. healing of the sick
  2. made blind people see
  3. made cripple people walk
  4. converted sinners
  5. gift of perfume i.e. people have reported that they received the scent roses when in the proximity of Padre Pio
  6. bilocation i.e. he was seen to have appeared in two places at the same time.
  7. told people of sins they committed in the past 
  8. Recall Padre Pio died in 1968. There are reports of people who have seen Padre Pio after 1968. I myself have met one such person 
  9. It has been said that Padre Pio was a living reminder of the Crucified Christ.