{"id":"st-padre-pio","name":"St. Padre Pio","title":"Stigmatist of San Giovanni Rotondo","knownFor":"Stigmatist, Mystic, Confessor","feastDay":"September 23","lifespan":"1887-1968","patronOf":"Civil Defense Volunteers, Adolescents","shortBio":"A Capuchin friar who bore the visible wounds of Christ for 50 years. Known for his marathon confessions, bilocation, reading of souls, and founding a major hospital.","fullBio":"Born Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina, Italy, Padre Pio entered the Capuchin novitiate at 15. From childhood, he experienced visions of Jesus, Mary, and his guardian angel, which he thought were normal for everyone.\n\nOn September 20, 1918, while praying after Mass, he received the visible stigmata - the five wounds of Christ - which remained on his body for 50 years, bleeding continuously and causing constant pain. He was the first priest to bear these visible marks.\n\nHis confessional became a pilgrimage destination, where he spent up to 16 hours daily hearing confessions. He could read souls, telling penitents their sins before they spoke, and refused absolution to the unrepentant. Many reported miraculous conversions after confession with him.\n\nPadre Pio founded the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (Home for Relief of Suffering), one of the world's most advanced hospitals. He formed prayer groups worldwide and emphasized the importance of the Rosary. He died in 1968, and his stigmata disappeared, leaving no trace.","miracles":["Bore the stigmata for 50 years","Bilocated to assist people worldwide","Read souls and knew sins before confession","Prophesied future events accurately","Healed countless people through prayer","Appeared to pilots during WWII, preventing bombing of his monastery"],"imageUrl":"https://page.gensparksite.com/v1/base64_upload/6d3d3a21f825f4381cd308071b8fc65f","imageAttribution":"Stained Glass of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina by Unknown (2007). Unknown Church. Stained Glass","orderByDate":1968}