Earlier this month, the family of Padre Pio and his Capuchin brothers in southern Italy, were angered by reports that the Vatican would unearth the saint’s body on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of his death, this April. The Vatican has said it wants to venerate the body, just as it will do with the body of Pope John XXIII. The family and Capuchins argue that the Vatican wants another excuse to question the stigmata of Padre Pio.
Padre Pio is the most venerated saint of the twentieth century. He died in 1968 at the age of 81.
Five years ago, in 2003, the Capuchins of his community in southern Italy were angered when the Vatican took control over the shrine that was dedicated to Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo. Nearly 9 million people visit the shrine each year.
when i was diagnoses with nasopharyngeal cancer and papillary cancer i asked the intercession of st. pio and from the day i was diagnosed up to this day to my way of recovery he has shown me miracles. not just the gift of being healed but the gift of understanding my purpose in life.