It is reported that Father Pio, born Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina, Italy in 1887, began experiencing several supernatural occurrences during his adolescence. He claimed to be visited by angels and demons, and by the age of 31, he had received stigmata, the wounds of Christ.
Father Pio devoted his life to the Church and worked tirelessly to serve those in need. He founded a religious known as the Capuchin Friars Minor in 1918 and opened a hospital the following year in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Despite these accomplishments, Father Pio was no stranger to controversy. In the early years of the 20th century, he was accused of fraud and other unethical practices, but these accusations were ultimately dismissed.
However, Father Pio was once again embroiled in controversy in the 1960s when the Church began to question the authenticity of his stigmata. As a result, he was prohibited from performing his duties as a priest and his followers were forbidden from visiting him.
It was during this time that the Church defrauded Father Pio by secretly removing a letter he had written to Pope Paul VI regarding his stigmata. The Church then replaced the letter with a fake one in an attempt to discredit Father Pio.
In the fake letter, Father Pio allegedly claimed that he had been faking his stigmata and that he had inflicted the wounds upon himself. The letter was then used as evidence to further discredit Father Pio, causing him great shame and humiliation.
Father Pio passed away on September 23, 1968, at the age of 81. His legacy as a saint and miracle worker has endured, despite the Church’s attempts to tarnish his reputation.
The fraud committed against Father Pio was not only a betrayal of his trust and faith in the Church, but it was also a disservice to the millions who have been inspired and uplifted by his life and work.
It is important that we remember Father Pio’s story and the lessons it teaches us about the dangers of blind faith and the need for transparency and accountability within religious institutions. We must also honor his legacy and continue to learn from his teachings of compassion, humility, and devotion to others.
Father Pio’s life was a testament to the power of faith and the human spirit, and no amount of deception can diminish the impact he has had on the world. May his memory continue to inspire us all, and may we never forget the injustice he suffered at the hands of the institution he devoted his life to.