Ansa reports that the remains of Saint Pio [Padre Pio] were transferred yesterday from the Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie in San Giovanni Rotondo [Foggia, Puglia] to the nearby new Church of San Pio da Pietrelcina. Thousands of people looked on and sang hymns as twelve Capuchin friars wheeled the silver vessel containing Saint Pio’s body on a cart to its new home.
The relics were venerated inside the new Church and Archbishop Michele Castoro of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo echoed Pope Benedict’s words during a visit to San Giovanni Rotondo in 2009 when he said that Christians today should follow the Saint’s example of living a life of prayer and charity. The altar of the new Church was consecrated and Saint Pio’s remains were placed inside the central pillar of the Church.
The Church of San Pio da Pietrelcina was designed by Renzo Piano, one of the architects of the Pompidou Centre in Paris. The Church has space for 6,500 faithful and can accommodate a further 30,000 in its courtyard.
The decision to move Padre Pio’s remains has upset many of his followers for, according to Giuseppe Saldutto of the Pro Padre Pio Association, the Saint, who died in 1968, had wanted to be buried in a cemetery like other friars. Mr Saldutto also said that burying Saint Pio in such a rich setting was an insult to his memory because he had loved the poor.
Archbishop Castoro said that he understood the objections to the relocation of the Saint’s remains but that the new church will be able to “give a more adequate welcome” to increasing numbers of pilgrims and offers improved disabled access.
Do you think it was right to move Padre Pio’s remains to the new church?
Have you been to San Giovanni Rotondo?
