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In 1940, Padre Pio began plans to open a hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo, to be named the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza or "Home to Relieve Suffering". The hospital opened in 1956. Barbara Ward, a British humanitarian and journalist on assignment in Italy, played a major role in obtaining for this project a grant of $325,000 from the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA). In order that Padre Pio might directly supervise this project, Pope Pius XII, in 1957 granted him dispensation from his vow of poverty. Padre Pio's detractors used this project as another weapon to attack him, charging him with misappropriation of funds.

Padre Pio was subject to numerous investigations. Fearing local riots, a plan to transfer Padre Pio to another friary was dropped and a second plan was aborted when a riot almost happened. In the period from 1924 to 1931 the Holy See made various statements denying that the happenings in the life of Padre Pio were due to any divine cause. At one point, he was prevented from publicly performing his priestly duties, such as hearing confessions and saying Mass.



My question is: Can anyone explain Pope Paul VI's arguments in favor of Padre Pio?

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I've given the Wikipedia article the correct attribution, and tagged the question; but you need to decide which of the questions you want to stand. Explaining Paul VI would not appear to be possible from a non-Catholic perspective. – Andrew Leach Oct 25 '13 at 5:28
@AndrewLeach How does this have anything to do with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (lds)? – Daniel Oct 25 '13 at 13:03
I would suggest pursuing sources other than Wikipedia for this – Greg Bala Oct 26 '13 at 13:44
@DanielCook (I wasn't pinged with your comment) I expect the answer is "Nothing", but that was the original tag and might have been relevant. – Andrew Leach Oct 30 '13 at 15:59

The article is incorrect on several points. For example it is true that Gemelli was critical of Padre Pio. It is also true that this was due to misunderstanding and from self inflated notions of his own importance in the Church. Gemelli evidence on the stigmata for example is fabricated and flies in the face of several medical physicians and properly adhered to as at least unexplainable if not of other than natural means. Gemelli did not really ever know Pio and his assumptions were based on views expressed by others such as Gagliardi whom disliked Pio for a variety of reasons that today or obscure as the Archbishop was so corrupt himself. The Stigmata lasted almost 50 years and show that notions of self inflicted ideas as simply absurd. Pio himself disliked it and it caused him great pain, physical and mental. Benedict 15 was a supporter of Pio whereas Pius 11 was swayed by men like Gemelli and Archbishop Gagliardi whom detested Pio but was himself later censored by the Church for improper behaviour. Pius 12 was a firm believer in Pio and John 23 was surrounded by men that held Pio in jealous eyes. Pope Paul 6 was a great believer in Pio and admired him very much. For this reason he fully backed Pio and supported him and accredited him on his death with true and heroic sanctity. John Paul 2 was also a great friend of Pio and would canonise him as Pio of Pietrelcina, Hope this all helps. Further reading on Pio will also add to knowledge in this matter.

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Could you cite some of your sources here? – Affable Geek Mar 10 '14 at 22:43

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