The Way. The Truth. The Life.

Remembering Padre Pio’s San Giovanni Rotondo—A Pilgrimage Filled with Blessings and Fireworks!

Written by Marissa Romero

Outdoor Solemn Mass, uplifting music, devotional processions, benedictions, and dazzling fireworks irradiated Italian San Giovanni Rotondo’s sky on the eve of September 23, 2018, to honor the 50^th anniversary of St. Padre Pio’s passing into eternal life on September 23, 1968, at the age of 81.

Moreover, this exceptional celebration also honored the Italian saint’s 100^th anniversary of receiving Christ’s stigmata on September 20, 1918.

A stream of devotees, not only from his native Italy but from around the world, gathered in San Giovanni Rotondo, the town where the Italian saint spent the last 51 years of his life, to celebrate and honor his remarkable saintly life legacy.

A bunch of 206 Tours pilgrims witnessed it all!

The Franciscan Capuchin friar, affectionately known as Padre Pio, used to say:

Worrying is pointless, the saint explained, because God is merciful and listens to the prayers of His flock.

Indeed, as it is written, “Cast all your worries upon Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Pilgrims’ Reflections on Particular Aspects of the Life and Legacy of Padre Pio

Currently residing in Rome, Fr. Guido Gockel, MHM, is passionate about pilgrimages, including serving as a spiritual director during a 206 Tours walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Having made at least five visits to San Giovanni Rotondo, he said:

“[Pray, hope, and don’t worry] is a good summary of what we are called to in our lives. It is another way of saying what our Lord teaches:

a) Prayer: Which the Lord defines as a relationship with Him when he asks us, ‘Abide in me,‘ (John 15:4).
b) Hope: Accepting the pain, rejection, and suffering in life willingly because of the hope His Father’s love gave Him.
c) Don’t worry: Jesus clearly teaches this in His sermon on the mount, as he tells us not to worry about food, drink, or clothing.
[Worrying] does not add anything to our lifespan.”

Padre Pio wanted the faithful to surrender all their worries to Christ, said full-blooded Italian pilgrim Tia Fortino-Duhe, an active grandmother of five in LaPlace, LA. She joined a 206 Tours pilgrimage to Italy, including San Giovanni Rotondo, in 2022.

“It’s a matter of placing all trust in the One who created you,” she added.

Throughout Padre Pio’s lifetime, as news about him spread across the globe, he received thousands of letters from the faithful. Amazingly, the Italian saint directly responded and blessed from afar all who sought his guidance.

_{PADRE PIO’S MAIL OFFICE: Correspondence received by Padre Pio—in just one year—is displayed at the Friar Minor Capuchin Convent in San Giovanni Rotondo, home of Padre Pio for over 50 years. The remaining mountains of correspondence are stored elsewhere in the convent archives.}

“I was struck by the reams of correspondence he had with so many people,” said Lyra Rufino-Maceda, Executive Director of the Chesterton Academy of St. James in Menlo Park, CA. She joined the 206 Tours pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo in 2018 for the mega-celebration of Padre Pio.

“There is no explanation to account for how he was able to pray, celebrate Masses, hear confessions, meet with people, correspond with them, visit others, and do spiritual battle within the confines of earthly time,” Rufino-Maceda said. “The Lord was really his health and strength.”

In 1918, Padre Pio received the stigmata, the wounds of Jesus Christ’s Passion.

Countless people from all across Italy and beyond flocked to his confessional to receive the Lord’s forgiveness and spiritual guidance from the stigmatized priest.

Receiving the stigmata is “a special grace and invitation to share in Jesus’ suffering,” explained Fr. Gockel.

“When most people think of His suffering, they fail to understand that, at the moment of His suffering, which ultimately ends on the cross, Jesus draws all suffering of all mankind to himself—a cosmic mystery.”

Fr. Gockel further explained that suffering is an invitation to “take up your cross” to follow Jesus.

Padre Pio indeed received this special invitation as he bore the stigmata for 50 years.

^{TAKE UP YOUR CROSS: Statue of St. Padre Pio helping Jesus carry the cross in the Santuario di San Salvatore in Lauro. This sanctuary is considered the home of Padre Pio in Rome, where he was also greatly celebrated on the eve of September 23, 2018.}

The Capuchin friar also devoted extended hours to hearing confessions. He had the gift to discern people’s consciences and was unafraid to withhold absolution until achieving genuine repentance and, in certain cases, until performing reparations.

Fortino-Duhe refers to Padre Pio as the “Apostle of the confessional.”

_{CONFESSION MARATHONS: Padre Pio spent countless hours, often more than 12 hours per day, in this confessional housed in the Old Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Pilgrims have the opportunity to leave their written intentions on the floor surrounding the confessional.}

Pope John Paul II beatified Padre Pio in 1999 and canonized him in 2002 for his ultimate commitment to the welfare of suffering souls.

During the canonization, St. John Paul II said: “Prayer and charity; this is the most concrete synthesis of Padre Pio’s teaching, which today is offered to everyone.”

The Pope reminisced about how Padre Pio used to say:

“It reinforces the reason to pray,” said Fortino-Duhe.

Rufino-Maceda added that Padre Pio’s “Stay with me, Lord” prayer after Communion is her favorite.

Pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo with 206 Tours: www.206tours.com/padre-pio-san-giovanni-rotondo-pilgrimage

View all Pilgrimages with 206 Tours: www.206tours.com/pilgrimages