Plaque with lilies and Padre Pio inscription
Padre Pio in Scotland
Plaque with lilies and Padre Pio inscription
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Small Cross with lily
Padre Pio's Exhumation and Public Veneration
(For more information and video clip click here: BBC News)
(YouTube has an English commentary video click here: Video)
small Cross with lily
Biography - Canonisation - Day in the life of - Middle Years - Death of Padre Pio - Wounds & Odours - Crypt - Spiritual Children

Padre Pio's body was exhumed on the 2nd of March 2008 and put on display for public veneration on
the 24th of April. It is expected to be on display for several months, possibly till his feast day on the
23rd of September although there are suggestions that it may remain on display till his feast day 2009.
Padre Pio's body was last on display for public veneration in 1968, after his death.
Click on any image for a larger picture
The glass coffin in which
The glass coffin in which
Padre Pio lies
Padre Pio on view for public veneration
Close up of the glass coffin
in which Padre Pio lies
Close up of the glass coffin
Close up of Padre Pio
in his glass coffin
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The crowd gathers
The crowd gathers
for the service
The presiding bishop
The friars and priests in the
The friars and priests in the
church for the service
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The friars passing the coffin
The friars passing the coffin
Church dignitaries
Church dignitaries
passing the coffin
The coffin in the crypt
The coffin in the crypt
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The coffin and public
The coffin and priests
The coffin in subdued lighting
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Close up of Padre Pio's face
The Bishop
The coffin
Taken during the service on the 24th April 2008
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EXHUMATION

Padre Pio's body was exhumed on the 2nd of March 2008. This followed months of speculation that his body would be prepared for public veneration. There are two important anniversaries this year - it will be 40 years since Padre Pio's death and 90 years since he received the stigmata - it is thought the period of public veneration will be part of the celebrations to mark these events.

Reports attributed to the Capuchin Friars within the Friary say that "parts of the body" had been found to be "intact". Archbishop D'Ambrosio of Foggia is quoted as saying the body was in "surprisingly good condition. As soon as we got inside the tomb we could clearly make out the beard. The top part of the skull is partly skeletal but the chin is perfect and the rest of the body is well preserved. The knees, hands, mittens and nails are clearly visible ......" He went on to say "the signs of the stigmata are not visible. The robes are also still intact and his feet are visible because, as is customary, capuchin monks are buried shoeless."

Padre Pio's body is expected to be placed in a "glass coffin" and put on display from the 24th of April for several months, possibly till his feast day on the 23rd of Sept.


Padre Pio's body was last on display for public veneration
in 1968, after his death. The photo below is from that time

Cross with lily
Padre Pio in his coffin at the time of his death
Cross with lily
Click on any image for a larger picture
(Photo courtesy of Alberindo Grimani)

Padre Pio was particularly fond of flowers

Biography - Canonisation - Day in the life of - Middle Years - Death of Padre Pio - Wounds & Odours - Crypt - Spiritual Children

 
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