The relic of the heart of San Pio will be exposed to the faithful. This was announced on Tg1 by the new rector of the Sanctuary of San Giovanni Rotondo, Fra' Aldo Broccato. The sacred remnant will be visible next to the body next September, on the occasion of the liturgical feast in honor of the saint of Pietrelcina. The rector pointed out that such an exhibition will only be possible following the authorization of the Bishop Franco Moscone (of the diocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo) and of the dicastery for the causes of saints.
“Fostering Godliness Is Good”
This is good news for the vast number of devotees of St. Pio, loved in Italy and around the world. Friar Broccato, interviewed on national news on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the saint's will, underlined that "there is no problem for the friars". In fact, the same explained that "everything that can promote devotion and allow the faithful to approach the relics of the body of Padre Pio, including the heart, can only be good for us".
A tunnel to reach the crypt even in the winter months
The rector also announced that an underground tunnel is being studied to allow pilgrims to reach the crypt that houses the body of St. Pio safely even in winter. The crypt of the basilica, which was designed by the architect Renzo Piano, will continue to house the body of the saint, which will no longer be moved to the old Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
A heart "broken" by pain
Currently, the heart of San Pio is kept in cell number 5, where he lived for thirty years until his death on September 23, 1968. An explanatory note placed next to the relic reads: "From the casket one notices a heart deteriorated due to the fact that it is a heart consumed by pain and love for Christ”. When the organ was dissected, it was found to be split. The saint's heart has been like this since 1918, when Jesus appeared to him.
(Photo: San Giovanni Rotondo – Padre Pio Shrine (Puglia – Italy), Facebook page)
