Thousands of people visit San Giovani, 200 miles southeast of Rome. More than 7 million people
per year visit this church, built during the l5th century. They look at the dark tomb, bare room, and the
bloody crucifix. Almost all of the religious souvenir trade in this village is related to Padre Pio, whom
millions of people believe to be a saint.
Father Joseph Martin came to this place 35 years ago and became a personal caretaker of Padre Pio.
He describes that the stigmata on Padre Pio's hand was about the size of a thumbnail, right through his
hand. He adds that the stigmata can be understood, only in religious terms. Monsignor Robert Sono, a
member of the Congregation for Causes of Saints, also explains the stigmata as a message from God,
brought to us through Padre Pio. The Congregation mainly studies inexplicable cases, on the basis of old
documents, dated as far as 1592.
Padre Pio was born Francisco Forgioni in 1887 and joined the Cappucine monastery when he was 15.
He was sent to San Giovani In 1916 and the stigmata appeared on his hand two years later, in 1918.
Father Geraldo Pargioni, known to have collected documents related to Padre Pio's life and his miracles,
describes that while Padre Pio was praying in front of the crucifix, he transformed into a mysterious
character and rays of light appeared from Padre Pio's hand and the ribs of the crucifix and penetrated
deeply into Padre Pio's body. Padre Pio was embarrassed ofthe stigmata and tried to hide it at first but it
wasn't long before his supervisors found out. Three doctors visited Padre Pio in May, July, and October of
l9l9 to take a look at the stigmata. According to Father Martin, the first doctor tried to heal the wound
but the stigmata only became bigger and the bleeding did not stop. The second doctor even put in his
finger in the stigmata and the third doctor was suspicious of whether the wound was self-inflicted. There
were no more medical inspections during the next 49 years. Believers testified that Padre Pio had the
hallmarks of a saint, such as the power to cure people of diseases, the ability to be at two places at a time,
and sweet axomas.