Pio of Pietrelcina

Who was Pio of Pietrelcina?

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, O.F.M. Cap. was a friar, priest and a mystic of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, developed from the Franciscan religious order, who adhere to the teachings and spiritual disciplines of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Pio of Pietrelcina is now venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. He was born Francesco Forgione, and given the name of Pius when he joined the Capuchins, thus he is popularly known as Father Pio. He became famous for bearing the stigmata, which generated much controversy around him for most of his life. After his beatification in 1999, he was canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 16, 2002.