The Saint Pio Foundation will permanently donate 20 first-class relics of St. Pio of Pietreclina (Padre Pio) to parishes across the United States, the group announced in a press release on Monday, October 6.
The relics, which are pieces of cloth stained with Padre Pio's blood, will be used to establish a "Chapel of Saint Pio" at each of the parishes where they are donated. These chapels will "become a permanent place of prayer that offers the faithful a local opportunity for pilgrimage and encounter with the saint," said the foundation.
"Padre Pio's life was a testimony of prayer, sacrifice and love for the suffering. By entrusting his relics to parishes across the country, our hope is to bring the faithful closer to God through Saint Pio's intercession," said the Saint Pio Foundation in the press release.
The Saint Pio Foundation "is a national nonprofit dedicated to promoting knowledge of and devotion to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. It works to bring spiritual and tangible relief to the suffering and underserved through charitable initiatives inspired by Saint Pio’s mission of mercy," said the group's website.
The first of these Chapels of Saint Pio was established in 2024 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, said the release.
Apart from the chapel in Fort Worth, the other locations have not yet been determined.
Interested dioceses and parishes who wish to create a Chapel of Saint Pio are encouraged to contact the Saint Pio Foundation, said the foundation.
Robe belonging to Padre Pio to embark on U.S. tour
Starting next week, Padre Pio's robe and other personal items will be available for veneration in Connecticut and Pennsylvania from October 11-18 on a separate tour sponsored by the Padre Pio Foundation of America and the National Centre for Padre Pio.
This visit is the first time Padre Pio's robe has left Italy.
The relics are accompanied by the Capuchin friars from San Giovanni Rotondo.
"The relics that will be arriving with the friars from Padre Pio’s friary in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, include one of Padre Pio’s vestments and a glove that he wore to cover his stigmata," Julie Fitts Ritter, executive director of the Padre Pio Foundation of America, told Aleteia back in June.
What is a relic?
The relics of Padre Pio that will be donated to parishes in the United States are "first-class relics," meaning they are part of his body (in this case, his blood). Other examples of first-class relics include pieces of bone or hair.
Conversely, something like Padre Pio's robe would be considered a "second-class relic" as it was an item he owned during his life.
Another classification of relics is "third-class." A third-class relic is something that has been touched to either a first- or second-class relic.
