On September 20, 1918, a thirty-one-year-old Capuchin friar knelt before a crucifix in the choir of Santa Maria delle Grazie and received wounds that would not heal for fifty years. Francesco Forgione—known to the world as Padre Pio—bore the stigmata until his death in 1968, becoming the first stigmatized priest in Church history. Millions came to this remote town on the Gargano Peninsula to attend his Masses that sometimes lasted hours, to receive his counsel in the confessional, or simply to witness the blood seeping through his fingerless gloves. What they found was not a wonder-worker eager for attention, but a suffering servant who called his wounds "an embarrassment" and spent up to eighteen hours a day hearing confessions.
Today San Giovanni Rotondo ranks among the most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world, drawing seven million pilgrims annually—more than Lourdes or Fatima. The transformation from obscure hilltop village to international shrine mirrors Padre Pio's own journey from humble friar to Saint. Two great churches now anchor the complex: the sixteenth-century Santa Maria delle Grazie, where Padre Pio celebrated Mass for over fifty years, and the monumental church designed by Renzo Piano that was completed in 2004, capable of holding 6,500 worshippers with another 30,000 in its open parvis. Between them lies the original Capuchin friary where Padre Pio lived, prayed, suffered, and died—his cell preserved exactly as he left it on September 23, 1968.
The pilgrimage here is not merely to venerate relics or admire architecture, but to enter into the spiritual charism of a saint who made confession and the Eucharist the center of his apostolate. Padre Pio heard an estimated five million confessions in his lifetime, often knowing penitents' sins before they spoke. He founded the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza—"House for the Relief of Suffering"—a modern hospital that opened in 1956 and now treats over 60,000 patients annually. His message was direct: "Pray, hope, and don't worry."
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Francesco Forgione was born on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, a small town in southern Italy's Campania region. From childhood he experienced mystical phenomena, including visions of Jesus, Mary, and his guardian angel, as well as physical attacks from demons. At fifteen he entered the Capuchin novitiate, taking the name Pio, and was ordained a priest on August 10, 1910. Poor health kept him moving between friaries until 1916, when his superiors assigned him to the remote friary of Santa Maria delle Grazie in San Giovanni Rotondo. He would never leave.
The stigmata appeared on September 20, 1918, while Padre Pio prayed before a crucifix in the choir. The wounds on his hands, feet, and side bled continuously for fifty years, losing approximately a cup of blood daily. Medical examinations found no natural explanation—the wounds neither healed nor became infected. Church authorities initially responded with suspicion: the Holy Office restricted his public ministry between 1931 and 1933, and again in 1960-1961. Yet the faithful continued to come. By the 1960s, up to eight thousand people attended his morning Mass, broadcast by loudspeaker to crowds outside.
Beyond the visible stigmata, Padre Pio manifested other extraordinary gifts. He could read souls—knowing penitents' sins without being told—and possessed the gift of bilocation, being seen in distant places while never leaving the friary. The fragrance of flowers or incense, called the "odor of sanctity," frequently surrounded him. He offered his sufferings for the conversion of sinners, once saying, "I have made a pact with the Lord: I will take the punishment, You give them the grace."
Padre Pio celebrated his final Mass on September 22, 1968, and died the following morning at 2:30 a.m. His last words were "Gesù, Maria" (Jesus, Mary). An estimated 100,000 people attended his funeral. Pope Paul VI had already proclaimed him "Venerable" during his lifetime—an extraordinary occurrence. Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1999 and canonized him on June 16, 2002, before a crowd of 300,000 in St. Peter's Square.
The Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Padre Pio's hospital, opened on May 5, 1956, and represented his vision of healthcare as ministry. Built entirely through donations, the hospital now operates 1,000 beds and serves as a major medical research center. Padre Pio insisted that the suffering of the sick be relieved with both medical excellence and spiritual care.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in San Giovanni Rotondo
Santuario di Padre Pio (Chiesa di San Pio)
Church of Saint Pio
The monumental pilgrimage church designed by Renzo Piano was inaugurated on July 1, 2004, and can accommodate 6,500 seated worshippers inside with space for 30,000 more on the outdoor parvis. The innovative design uses massive stone arches—the largest spans 50 meters—covered with pre-oxidized copper roofing that will eventually turn green. Natural light floods the interior through glazed openings. The church houses the tomb of Saint Pio beneath the main altar, where his incorrupt body was placed in a crystal sarcophagus following exhumation in 2008. Pilgrims can venerate the saint through glass viewing windows. A golden mosaic covers the apse, depicting the glorified Christ. Daily Masses are celebrated throughout the day.
Santa Maria delle Grazie
Church of Our Lady of Grace
The original sixteenth-century church where Padre Pio celebrated Mass for over fifty years and received the stigmata in 1918. The small choir where the mystical event occurred is preserved behind the main altar. The church underwent renovations in 1959 to accommodate growing crowds, but maintains its intimate Capuchin character. Padre Pio's original confessional stands in the sacristy, worn smooth by decades of use. The crucifix before which he received the stigmata remains in place. Morning Masses in this church offer pilgrims the experience closest to what the saint himself knew.
Convento dei Cappuccini
Capuchin Friary
The historic friary adjacent to Santa Maria delle Grazie houses the Padre Pio Museum and the saint's original cell. His simple room is preserved exactly as he left it—the bed where he died, his books, his personal effects. The corridor outside his cell is marked by a plaque at the spot where he experienced the stigmata's final, invisible wounds. The friary garden where Padre Pio walked and prayed is open to pilgrims. The museum displays his vestments, personal correspondence, and the crucifix that bore the marks of his sufferings.
Il Crocifisso delle Stimmate
The Crucifix of the Stigmata
The wooden crucifix before which Padre Pio received the stigmata on September 20, 1918, now displayed in a specially designed chapel within the Santa Maria delle Grazie complex. The life-size crucifix dates to the seventeenth century. According to Padre Pio's account, while praying before this image, he saw rays of light emanating from Christ's wounds that pierced his own hands, feet, and side. Pilgrims venerate this crucifix as one of the most significant relics associated with the stigmata phenomenon.
Confessionale di Padre Pio
Padre Pio's Confessional
Preserved in the old sacristy of Santa Maria delle Grazie, this small wooden confessional witnessed an estimated five million confessions over fifty years. Padre Pio spent up to eighteen hours daily hearing confessions, often knowing penitents' sins before they confessed them. Some were sent away to examine their consciences more thoroughly; others experienced profound conversions. The worn wood and simple curtain testify to the saint's tireless ministry of reconciliation.
Via Crucis Monumentale
Monumental Way of the Cross
A striking outdoor Stations of the Cross designed by Francesco Messina and inaugurated in 1971. Fourteen bronze sculptural groups, some standing over four meters high, line the path ascending the hill behind the sanctuary complex. The contemporary artistic style captures the drama of Christ's Passion with powerful emotional impact. The route takes approximately one hour to walk and offers panoramic views of the Gargano Peninsula. This Via Crucis was dear to Padre Pio, who meditated on Christ's Passion daily.
Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza
House for the Relief of Suffering
Padre Pio's hospital, founded in 1956, operates as a major medical and research center with approximately 1,000 beds. The saint envisioned a place where physical suffering would be relieved through medical excellence while spiritual needs received equal attention. Built entirely through donations, the hospital serves over 60,000 patients annually. The original cornerstone, laid by Padre Pio himself, is displayed in the hospital chapel. Visitors can tour the grounds and attend Mass in the hospital church, where the sick and their families receive spiritual care.
Chiesa di San Giuseppe Artigiano
Church of Saint Joseph the Worker
The original parish church of San Giovanni Rotondo, located in the historic town center below the sanctuary complex. While not directly associated with Padre Pio's ministry, this fifteenth-century church provides context for the village as it existed before becoming a pilgrimage destination. The church contains notable baroque altarpieces and offers a peaceful alternative to the crowds at the main sanctuary.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina — September 23
The principal feast day commemorates Padre Pio's death on September 23, 1968. Pilgrims gather by the hundreds of thousands for solemn liturgies, processions with the saint's relics, and candlelight vigils. The celebration begins on September 22, the anniversary of his last Mass, with all-night adoration. The following day features a pontifical Mass celebrated by a cardinal or senior prelate, often drawing Church hierarchy from around the world.
Anniversary of the Stigmata — September 20
The anniversary of Padre Pio's reception of the visible stigmata in 1918 is marked with special Masses and prayer services focused on redemptive suffering. Pilgrims are invited to make the Way of the Cross on the monumental Via Crucis, meditating on Christ's Passion as Padre Pio did daily. The crucifix before which he received the wounds is venerated in special ceremonies.
Canonization Anniversary — June 16
The anniversary of Padre Pio's canonization in 2002 features joyful liturgies celebrating his official recognition as a saint of the universal Church. Pilgrimage groups from around the world, especially from Padre Pio's native Pietrelcina, gather for Mass and thanksgiving services.
Anniversary of the Hospital Foundation — May 5
The anniversary of Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza's opening in 1956 is celebrated with Mass in the hospital chapel, blessing of the sick, and remembrance of Padre Pio's healing charism. Medical staff and patients participate in services that honor the saint's vision of healthcare as ministry.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Hotel Parco delle Rose ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Modern four-star hotel located 500 meters from the sanctuary, offering comfortable rooms and a restaurant serving Puglian cuisine. Conference facilities available for pilgrimage groups. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Hotel Colonne ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Elegant property on the main approach to the sanctuary with panoramic views of the Gargano. Restaurant, wellness center, and large meeting rooms for group pilgrimages. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Hotel Gran Paradiso ⭐⭐⭐ — Family-run establishment with warm hospitality and easy access to the sanctuary. Simple, clean rooms and a traditional restaurant. Good value for pilgrimage groups. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Casa del Pellegrino (pilgrim accommodation) — Simple guest house operated near the sanctuary offering basic but clean rooms at affordable rates for pilgrims. Communal dining available. Website
Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Guest House (pilgrim accommodation) — Accommodations associated with Padre Pio's hospital, primarily serving families of patients but open to pilgrims. Simple rooms in a prayerful atmosphere. Website
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport is the nearest major airport, approximately 130 kilometers south. Car rental and bus connections to San Giovanni Rotondo are available. Foggia Gino Lisa Airport, closer at 45 kilometers, has limited commercial service.
By Train: The nearest railway station is Foggia, on the main Adriatic line connecting Bari, Ancona, and Bologna. From Foggia, SITA buses depart regularly for San Giovanni Rotondo (approximately 45 minutes).
By Bus: SITA operates direct coach services to San Giovanni Rotondo from major cities including Rome (approximately 4 hours), Naples (3 hours), and Bari (2 hours). The bus station is centrally located near the sanctuary.
By Car: From Bari, take the A14 motorway north to Foggia, then follow signs for the Gargano Peninsula and San Giovanni Rotondo (total journey approximately 1.5 hours). From Rome, take the A1/A14 via Foggia (approximately 4 hours). Large parking areas are available near the sanctuary.
Local Transport: Many hotels offer shuttle services to the sanctuary. Electric buses circulate within the pilgrimage zone for those with limited mobility.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
C. Bernard Ruffin. Padre Pio: The True Story — The most comprehensive English-language biography, drawing on extensive research and interviews with those who knew the saint.
Gennaro Preziosi. Padre Pio: Stories and Memories of My Mentor and Friend — Personal recollections from a spiritual son who knew Padre Pio for decades.
Stefano Campanella. The Five Wounds: A Padre Pio Story — Historical novel bringing the saint's life to vivid narrative form.
Online Resources:
Padre Pio Foundation of America — Official foundation promoting devotion to Saint Pio in the United States with extensive resources.
Official Sanctuary Website — Liturgical schedules, virtual tours, and practical pilgrimage information.
Vatican Biography of Saint Pio — Official biography prepared for his canonization.
🎥 Recommended Videos
Padre Pio: Miracle Man — Feature film starring Sergio Castellitto portraying the saint's life and ministry.
EWTN Documentary: Padre Pio — Comprehensive documentary covering his life, stigmata, and spiritual legacy.
🔗 Useful Links
Sanctuary of Padre Pio — Official sanctuary website with Mass schedules, accommodation booking, and pilgrimage planning.
Gargano National Park — Information on the natural beauty surrounding San Giovanni Rotondo.
Puglia Tourism — Regional tourism board for the broader Apulia region.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Monte Sant'Angelo (25 km) — The Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel, where the Archangel appeared in a cave in 490 AD. UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe's oldest pilgrimage destinations. Padre Pio made pilgrimage here before entering religious life.
San Marco in Lamis (20 km) — The Sanctuary of San Matteo houses the relics of Saint Matthew the Evangelist and hosts dramatic Holy Week processions.
Pietrelcina (130 km) — Padre Pio's birthplace in Campania, where his childhood home and the places of his early mystical experiences are preserved as pilgrimage sites.
Bari (130 km) — The relics of Saint Nicholas rest in the crypt of the Romanesque basilica, drawing pilgrims from East and West.
Lanciano (110 km) — Site of a famous eighth-century Eucharistic miracle where the host transformed into visible flesh and blood, preserved for veneration.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer." — Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
