CEBU - A huge statue of Saint Francesco Forgione better known as Padre Pio will soon stand on top of a hill overlooking Cebu City as part of a sanctuary dedicated to the popular Italian Franciscan Capuchin friar.
The
Santuario di Padre Pio project in Pulangbato village will start with the
construction of a 100-foot-tall statue. The ground breaking of the project was
held recently in the presence of Archbishop Jose Palma and members of the
Contemplative Community of Padre Pio de Cebu.
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| Official portrait photograph of Padre Pio, c. 1947. (Elia Stelluto) |
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| A perspective of the proposed Santuario di Padre Pio project in Cebu City. |
At the
heart of the statue will be an oratory, according to the project proponent -
the St. Padre Pio Home for the Relief of the Suffering-Philippines Foundation.
The
envisioned pilgrimage site will house some priceless relics of Saint Padre Pio,
a replica of his incorrupt body, and a chapel with an altar that will replicate
that of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Italy’s San Giovanni Rotondo,
where the saint lived from 1916 until his death in 1968.
Santuario
di Padre Pio will also feature, among others, an adoration chapel, a
confessional hall, lounges and social spaces for healing ministry and
recollection.
Forgione, also known as Saint Pius of Pietrelcina is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. Padre Pio became famous for exhibiting stigmata for most of his life, thereby generating much interest and controversy.
He was both beatified in 1999 and canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. The Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina is located in San Giovanni Rotondo, Province of Foggia in Italy. (Fleriz Zacarias and Cebu Examiner)
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