The relic of Padre Pio's heart is preserved in a teakwood reliquary that was blessed by Pope Benedict XVI during his pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo in 2019.
On the occasion of the liturgical feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, celebrated on September 23, the relic of the saint's heart will once again be exposed for the devotion of the faithful, as announced by the rector of the Sanctuary of San Giovanni Rotondo (Italy), Father Aldo Broccato.
Promoting Devotion to Padre Pio
According to the friar, although the final decision rests with the Archbishop of Manfredonia-Vieste San Giovanni Rotondo and the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, for the friars "anything that can stimulate devotion and allow the faithful to draw near to the relics of Padre Pio's body, including the heart, can only be good for us." The reliquary is kept in cell number 5 of the "Santa Maria delle Grazie" convent, where the saint lived for three decades.
Exposition and Pilgrimage of the Relic
The construction of a tunnel is planned to allow pilgrims to access the crypt of the basilica, where the saint's body is preserved.
Also Read | Film: Occult Forces – 1943
In June, the relic of Saint Pio was exposed in the "Madonna della Consolazione" Sanctuary in Pula, on the occasion of the annual regional conference of the Padre Pio Prayer Groups of Sardinia.
Previously, the relic of the heart of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina has traveled to various places: in 2016, it went to Boston, United States; in 2018, it was received in Paraguay; in May 2019, it was exposed in Pietrelcina on the occasion of the 132nd anniversary of the saint's birth.
This article was originally published by Gaudium Press (Article Link)