Italy's favourite saint was a fraud believed former pope

TimesOnine ^ | October 25, 2007 | Richard Owen

[Gamecock]

Pope John XXIII believed Padre Pio, the hugely popular Capuchin monk who was canonised in 2002, was a fraud who had "incorrect" relations with women and whose soul was in danger....

Sergio Luzzatto...has also found documents in the Vatican archives suggesting that Padre Pio may have faked his stigmata, the marks of the wounds of Christ, with acid. Vatican officials say both allegations are already well known....

Followers of Padre Pio believe he exuded "the odour of sanctity", had the gift of bilocation (being in two places at once), healed the sick and could prophesy the future.

[Gamecock]

The odour of sanctity?

What does sanctity smell like?

[Uncle Chip]

Oh no — tell me it ain’t so, Sergio!!! There goes his halo.

[DannyTN]

The gift of bi-location? I think I have that gift. I can be sitting here and completely in another world.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Cannonization is a laborious process, and I expect that all possible objections and rejected them. Saints are not required to be perfect, in fact none were, only Christ was perfect. Popes are not infallible in their judgements, only in a few, very rare, declarations on dogma or morality.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

See post 5, Pope John’s doubts occurred more than 40 years BEFORE the cannonization of Padre Pio.

[ovrtaxt]

Nah, that was his evil twin. Bi-location huh?

And people say we charismatics believe in weird stuff!

[Gamecock]

Popes are not infallible in their judgements,

Not according to the The Catholic Anti-Defamation League. According to the article the canonisation was "infallible".

[Uncle Chip]

[He] had the gift of bilocation (being in two places at once)

That gift just might come in handy where he is now.

[markomalley]

When he had to submit to investigations and restrictions in his priestly ministry, he accepted everything with profound humility and resignation. In the face of unjust accusations and calumnies he remained silent, trusting always in the judgement of God, of his immediate superiors and of his own conscience.

Source: Vatican web site bio

As his spiritual influence increased, so did the voices of his detractors. Accusations against Padre Pio poured in to the Holy Office (today the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith). By June 1922, restrictions were placed on the public’s access to Padre Pio. His daily Mass time varied each day, without announcement to diminish the crowds, and he was ordered not to answer correspondence from people seeking spiritual direction. It was also rumored that plans were being developed to transfer Padre Pio. However, both local and Church authorities were afraid of public riots and decided that a more remote and isolated place than San Giovanni Rotondo could not be found.

Despite the restrictions and controversies, Padre Pio’s ministry continued. From 1924 – 1931 various statements were made by the Holy See that denied the supernaturality of Padre Pio’s phenomena. On June 9, 1931, the Feast of Corpus Christi, Padre Pio was ordered by the Holy See to desist from all activities except the celebration of the Mass, which was to be in private. By early 1933, Pope Pius XI ordered the Holy See to reverse its ban on Padre Pio’s public celebration of Mass, saying, "I have not been badly disposed toward Padre Pio, but I have been badly informed."

Padre Pio’s faculties were progressively restored. First, the confessions of men were allowed (March 25, 1934) and then women (May 12, 1934). Although he had never been examined for a preaching license, the Capuchin Minister General granted him permission to preach, honoris cuasa, and he preached several times a year. In 1939 when Pope Pius XII was elected pope, he began to encourage people to visit Padre Pio. More and more people began to make pilgrimages.

Source: EWTN Biography

The bottom line is that the controversy around Padre Pio is no new news and no great secret. This is simply another non-news libel printed by an MSM rag.

[rogernz]

the Times publishes some horribly biogted anti-catholic stuff.

Its one thing to have a debate about issues, another to make assumption on headlines or unconfirmed references.

don’t waste your time on such MSM rubbish... they want christians to get at each others throats so they can go about wrecking the world even more!!

[rogernz]

and whenever i try and post a response in the Times’ comments box they never publish my comment!!! its a fraud of a free press.

[netmilsmom]

Bears repeating.

The bottom line is that the controversy around Padre Pio is no new news and no great secret. This is simply another non-news libel printed by an MSM rag.

[netmilsmom]

And why is an article from 2007, news today?
Hmmmmm

[A.A. Cunningham]

This is simply another non-news libel printed by an MSM rag.

And perpetuated by an anti-Catholic pot stirring freeper.

[ClearCase_guy]

The first incident of vandalism I ever saw on Wikipedia was an entry for Padre Pio -- it identified him as an Italian serial killer who preyed on young boys.

I corrected it. There are people out there with a terrible hatred of Padre Pio.

[Gamecock]

Calling me names doesn’t make me wrong, now does it.

[philly-d-kidder]

What does sanctity smell like?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Roses

[markomalley]

And in tomorrow's Times, Sister Faustina Kowalska was suppressed by the Vatican, for a time.

[philly-d-kidder]

Padre Pio Cured a Child from Noristown Pa while meeting with his mom while he was in another publicly documented meeting... I spoke with the yound girl at Barto Pa...