Francesco Forgione born on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, southern Italy. He was tutored privately until his entry to the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars at the age of 15. Of feeble health but strong will, with the help of grace, he completed the required studies and was ordained a priest in 1910.
On September 20, 1918 the five wounds of our Lord’s passion appeared on his body, making him the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Catholic Church. Padre Pio was hearing confessions when he felt pain in his hands and feet. He noticed the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, appearing on his hands and feet. The experience was painful. Bleeding occurred. The wounds smelled of roses, and although they continued to weep, they never became infected.
Countless persons were attracted to his confessional and many more received his saintly counsel and spiritual guidance through correspondence.
Padre Pio became popular with the people he encountered and soon began to attribute supernatural occurrences to him. For example, he was said to levitate, and able to perform miracles.
In 1947, Fr. Karol Wojtyla visited Padre Pio who prophetically told him he would rise to the highest post in the Church.” Fr. Karol Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II in 1978.
Padre Pio used his newfound popularity to open a hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo. The facility opened in 1956.
Countless miracles and stories are attributed to Padre Pio, both during his life and after he left the earth.
The story of “the flying monk” from WWII is a favorite of mine. Link here to read
He could read souls. Another interesting story is of his refusing of absolution to a woman who had come for Confession. Distraught she returned the following day to seek a reason for the refusal. Padre Pio told her he refused because she intentionally withheld a known sin. He told her she had had an abortion which she didn’t confess. He also said the boy she aborted would have been one of the greatest of Popes.
St. Pio of Pietrelcina is a powerhouse saint of our times. There are videos and first hand accounts of his life to find in books and YouTube and Google.