SAN PIO DA PIETRALCINA
Capuchin religious
September 23 Holidays

Francesco Forgione was born in Pietrelcina in 1887, he became a cappuccino in 1903 choosing to be called Pio. Priest in 1910, in 1916 he moved to the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in San Giovanni Rotondo. Here he carried out an intense activity of assistance and apostolate revealing the qualities of tireless confessor. He received the stigmata in 1918, a sign of communion with the Passion of Christ. He died in 1968 and was canonized in 2002.
He is depicted in a Capuchin friar's dress with bandaged hands.