Holy Family Church issued the following announcement on Sept. 23.

The canonization of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina on June 16, 2002 was the 45th canonization ceremony in Pope John Paul’s pontificate. More than 300,000 people braved blistering heat as they filled St. Peter’s Square and nearby streets. They heard the Holy Father praise the new saint for his prayer and charity. 

Many people have turned to him to intercede with God on their behalf; among them was the future Pope John Paul II. In 1962, he wrote to Padre Pio and asked him to pray for a woman with throat cancer. Within two weeks, she had been cured of her life-threatening disease.

Born Francesco Forgione, Padre Pio grew up in a family of farmers in southern Italy. At the age of 15, Francesco joined the Capuchins and took the name of Pio.

On September 20, 1918, as he was making his thanksgiving after Mass, Padre Pio had a vision of Jesus. When the vision ended, he had the stigmata in his hands, feet, and side.

Medical doctors, Church authorities, and curiosity seekers came to see Padre Pio. The authenticity of the stigmata was questioned.

Padre Pio rarely left the friary after he received the stigmata, but busloads of people soon began coming to see him. In time his confessional ministry would take 10 hours a day; penitents had to take a number so that the situation could be handled. Many of them have said that Padre Pio knew details of their lives that they had never mentioned.

A number of people have reported cures they believe were received through the intercession of Padre Pio. Those who assisted at his Masses came away edified; several curiosity seekers were deeply moved. 

He died on September 23, 1968, and was beatified in 1999.

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Original source can be found here.

Source: Holy Family Church