Wednesday,
May 07, 2008
"Padre Pio"
Shrine Becomes Bigger Attraction than "
The
ANNOTICO Report
A
Catholic magazine once found that far more Italian Catholics pray to the Padre Pio than to Jesus or Mary.
The saint, whose real name was Francesco Forgione,
was born in 1887 and died in 1968. His devotees believe he bore the wounds of
the crucified Christ on his hands, feet and side for at least 50 years.
The
forecast nine million total will make the town near
Thanks to Pat Gabriel
Padre Pio
Unveiled body will bring in
nine times more people, mag says
ANSA
Padre Pio
The recent unveiling of the Franciscan friar
The forecast nine million total will make the town
near
The magazine put the annual turnover of the Padre Pio
shrine at some 120 million euros including revenue from souvenirs, two
periodicals and a satellite TV station - plus pilgrims
But the period was extended due to demands from millions of admirers.
Padre Pio will now remain in his glass-sided coffin
until September 2009 to give pilgrims a chance to see and venerate his remains
for the first time since he died 40 years ago.
Thousands of people flocked to see the body on April 24 as Italian state
broadcaster RAI
Almost 100 journalists from the international press covered the unveiling.
Padre Pio
The body is now mainly hidden from view under a monk
The body will be returned next September to the crypt of the
The saint
A Catholic magazine once found that far more Italian Catholics pray to the
Padre Pio than to Jesus or Mary.
The saint, whose real name was Francesco Forgione,
was born in 1887 and died in 1968. His devotees believe he bore the wounds of
the crucified Christ on his hands, feet and side for at least 50 years.
By the time of his death, he was credited by his fellow friars with having
performed more than a tho usand
miraculous cures and other miracles - one of them for the future Pope John Paul
II.
The late pope was the driving force behind his canonisation,
which took place in record time in 2002.
This officially made him San Pio, but almost everyone
still uses his former name.
Other alleged gifts were the ability to be in two places at the same time and
emit the scent of fresh flowers.
Forgione was shunned by church officialdom for much
of his life amid suspicions of fraud and even accusations of impropriety with
female followers.
He was only belatedly recognised, largely because of
his towering stature among the faithful.
However, even after his death there have been accusations that he was a fraud.
A new book suggested last year that he may have used carbolic acid to create
his Christ-like wounds.
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