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5/25/1887
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Francesco Forgione was born at 5:00 pm in Pietrelcina, Italy to Grazio and Maria Giuseppa Forgione.
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1/6/1903
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At age 15, he entered the Capuchin Novitiate in Morcone, Italy.
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1/22/1903
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Investiture into the Capuchin Order taking the Franciscan habit and the name Brother Pio.
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8/10/1910
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At twenty-three years old, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Paolo Schinosi in the Cathedral in Benevento, Italy.
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8/14/1910
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Said his first Mass at Our Lady of the Angels parish in Pietrelcina.
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9/1910
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Received the temporary or invisible stigmata at the family farm in Piana Romana. The painful wounds would appear and disappear.
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11/6/1915
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Drafted into the Italian Army. On Dec. 6, he was assigned to the 10th Medical Corps in Naples. Due to poor health, he was continually discharged and recalled until March 16, 1918, when he was declared unfit for military service.
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9/4/1916
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Assigned to Our Lady of Grace Monastery in San Giovanni Rotondo.
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8/5/1918
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Transverberation of his heart, causing a visible wound on his chest.
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9/20/1918
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Received the visible stigmata while praying before a crucifix in the monastery church of Our Lady of Grace. He became the first priest in the history of the Catholic Church to bear the stigmata.
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5/15/1919
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His superiors call for the first medical examination of his stigmata by Dr. Romanelli. On July 26, 1919, he was examined by Dr. Bignami, and on October 9, 1919, by Dr. Festa.
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5/5/1956
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Inauguration of his hospital, “Home for the Relief of Suffering.”
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7/31/1968
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His Prayer Groups are given official recognition by the Vatican.
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9/23/1968
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Padre Pio died at 2:30 am. His last words were, “Jesus, Mary.” The Father Guardian of the Monastery stated that ten minutes after Padre Pio’s death, all traces of the stigmata on his hands, feet, and side had disappeared.
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12/21/1998
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The scientifically unexplainable healing of Mrs. Consiglia De Martino of Salerno, Italy, needed a miracle for beatification, is approved by Congregation for the Cause of Saints.
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5/2/1999
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Beatified by Pope John Paul II
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12/18/2000
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The scientifically unexplainable healing of 7-year-old Matteo Collela of San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, needed a miracle for canonization, is approved by Congregation for the Cause of the Saints.
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6/16/2002
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Canonized by Pope John Paul II
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Sept. 23
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Feast Day
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Patron of Civil Defense Workers
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Every year, eight million pilgrims visit the monastery of Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, to pray at the tomb of St. Pio of Pietrelcina. As a place of pilgrimage, St. Pio’s shrine is second only to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico in its number of annual visitors.
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