T i m e O u t

Padre Pio

45^th anniversary of the death of Padre Pio

September offers devotees of the renowned Capuchin Friar Padre Pio opportunities to reflect on key moments in the Saint’s life: 20^th Sept. 1918 stigmata; 23^rd Sept. 1968 death; 26^th  Sept. 1968 his funeral caused an

unprecedented outpouring of grief in San Giovanni Rotundo (FO). This week, as the faithful commemorates the 45^th anniversary of his death, the Padre Pio phenomenon continues to amaze.

Opinions are polarised. The adage “for the believer, no explanation is needed, for the nonbeliever no explanation will suffice” is very true when referring to Padre Pio. There are as many people ready to scoff at the stigmata, bi-location, perfumes and as there are people whose total belief in the supernatural powers of the Friar leaves no room for doubt or need for an alternative explanation for paranormal occurrences during and after his life. For this army of believers, his faith and the legacy he left in terms of medical and religious structures are sufficient proof of his sanctity. 

What is disturbing is the exploitation of his psychological fragility, manifested in hallucinations and visions, his excessive insistence on personal mortification to the point of masochism, his simple theological formation. The myth was built of these frailties.

Parallel to this is the exploitation of people’s desperation and of their unquestioning faith. People who are praying for a grace or who are convinced that one has been granted are willing to go into debt in order to continue offering money to the more than 3,000 “Padre Pio Foundations” and “Prayer Groups" worldwide, which total about 3,000,000 members. The Padre Pio machine has been raking in money for almost 100 years and shows no sign of slowing down.

His canonization in 2002, during a time of crisis within the Catholic Church, in the hope, perhaps, that it would revive religious practices, raised eyebrows.  In 2008, his body was exhumed and declared in “fair condition”. It was then touched up and put on exhibition in a gold casket. The friar’s habit is stitched with gold thread. Offerings flooded in to help fund this enterprise. Preparations are already underway for a major international gathering at San Giovanni Rotundo in 2018 on the 50^th anniversary of the Saint’s death and the faithful will make generous contributions towards the success of the event.

I can’t help wondering what Padre Pio would make of it all. Was he the architect of this machine? If not, was he aware of its enormity? Did he justify its existence? Was his dedication to helping the faithful such that, to this end, he was willing to play out the myth that had been created? Wasn’t he somewhat arrogant in maintaining that both God and Satan were using his body as an arena for their duels and in always blaming them for his weaknesses? It certainly relieved him of personal responsibility. I can’t help wondering, too, whether Pope Francis approves of a Capucin website with links for deposits and offerings for virtual flowers.

Or is there some long-term Divine Plan for Padre Pio in place that eludes our understanding and that it is wrong to even question?

Whatever the answers, those who have faith draw comfort from the knowledge that in times of suffering we can intercede with Christ through saintly people like Padre Pio and hope for a miracle.

Those who haven’t this faith can draw comfort from the knowledge that, when our own strength wavers, we can draw solace from the font of goodness and generosity that is the defining characteristic, maybe even the miracle, of humankind.