Saint Pio was born of simple , hardworking farming people on 25th May 1887, in Pietrelcina, Southern Italy. His parents were Grazio Mario Forgione (1860-1946) and Maria Guiseppa de Nunzio Forgione (1859-1929). He was baptized the next day, in the nearby Castle Church, with the name Francesco. The family way of life was centered on God because they attended daily mass, prayed the Rosary nightly and fasted three days a week from meat in honor of Our Lady of Mt Carmel. It was this lovely family setting that the seeds of faith were nurtured within Padre Pio. F rom his early childhood, it was evident that Padre Pio had a deep piety. When he was five years old, he solemnly consecrated himself to Jesus. In order to finance the private tutor needed to educate Padre Pio, his father went to America to work. Thus, he was tutored privately until his entry into the Capuchin Friars at the age of 15. Of feeble health but strong will, and with the help of grace, he completed the required studies and was ordained a priest in 1910.
On 20th September 1918, the five wounds of our Lords Passion appeared on his body, making him the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Church. Countless numbers were attracted to his confessional and many more received his saintly and spiritual guidance through correspondence. His whole life was marked by long hours of prayer and continual austerity. His letters to his spiritual directors reveal the ineffable sufferings, physical and spiritual, which accompanied him all through his life. They also reveal his very union with God, his burning love for the Blessed Eucharist and our Blessed Lady. Worn out by over half a century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, he was called to his heavenly reward on 23rd September 1968.
The steps taken in the Process of Padre Pios Canonization are the following: 20th March 1983, the Diocesan Process was begun; 21st January 1990, the aforesaid Process was closed; Sunday, 2nd May 1999, John Paul II declared Padre Pio Blessed; 16th June 2002, the same Pope declared Padre Pio Saint.
On 20th September 1918, the five wounds of our Lords Passion appeared on his body, making him the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Church. Countless numbers were attracted to his confessional and many more received his saintly and spiritual guidance through correspondence. His whole life was marked by long hours of prayer and continual austerity. His letters to his spiritual directors reveal the ineffable sufferings, physical and spiritual, which accompanied him all through his life. They also reveal his very union with God, his burning love for the Blessed Eucharist and our Blessed Lady. Worn out by over half a century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, he was called to his heavenly reward on 23rd September 1968.
The steps taken in the Process of Padre Pios Canonization are the following: 20th March 1983, the Diocesan Process was begun; 21st January 1990, the aforesaid Process was closed; Sunday, 2nd May 1999, John Paul II declared Padre Pio Blessed; 16th June 2002, the same Pope declared Padre Pio Saint.