San Giovanni Rotondo Pilgrimage

Visiting San Giovanni Rotondo

The first goals of most pilgrims to San Giovanni Rotondo are to visit the churches where Padre Pio celebrated Mass, his monastery and where his earthly body lies today.

The churches:

The medieval monastery church and the later 1959 church where Padre Pio celebrate Mass are both existing and attached to the monastery. The churches, both known as “Our Lady of Grace” (“Santa Maria delle Grazie”) church, are interconnected and open to one another. The medieval portion includes one of Padre Pio’s confessionals (that used by female penitents). The older church also has the choir loft where Padre Pio received the permanent stigmata, and has the crucifix before which he was praying at the time. The choir loft is open for visitation.

From the church the visitor can access the old sacristy where Padre Pio used to hear the confessions of the men. Several of Padre Pio’s confessionals from different time periods are in the space.

The 1959 church was built to accommodate the ever-growing number of people coming to receive Reconciliation from Padre Pio. The church is much larger than the medieval church. When it was built and his brother Capuchins commented on the large size, Padre Pio chuckled and said it was only the size of a “matchbox” and that a larger church would be needed. The mural behind the altar depicts Mary holding the Baby Jesus, as well as Padre Pio. The lower level of the church has the original crypt that held the remains of Padre Pio. Also, from this church the visitor can access the “English Room” which has information on Padre Pio in English. Until his death a few years ago, Father Ermelinda, who was a friend of Padre Pio, manned the room.

The third major church on the site is the Church of Padre Pio located behind the older churches and the monastery. The church, inaugurated in 2004, seats 6,500 people. This church is very modern and non-traditional in design. A portion of the church is adapted to serving an outdoor area where Mass can be held for immense crowds. This was the much larger church that Padre Pio had said would be needed.

The Body of Padre Pio:

In the lower level of the 2004 church is the current crypt chapel with the remains of Padre Pio. Padre Pio had wanted to buried in the cemetery with his brother Capuchins and was upset when he found that a special place in the 1959 church crypt was being prepared for him. He believed in simplicity and he did not believe that the special treatment was warranted. The Capuchin order knew that more would be demanded, and that the faithful would continue to come after his death. Padre Pio’s remains were later transferred to the new crypt church, with it gold-covered walls. This is where his remains lay today.

The monastery:

Visitors are permitted to visit certain areas of the monastery. These areas include Padre Pio’s cell, the former terrace where he would visit with his brother Capuchins and guests, and numerous other rooms that have been converted to a museum holding many relics of the saint, including his blood-stained clothing, his equipment and clothing he used for Mass, etc. One room has a floor-to-ceiling case of letters, which are the letters received by Padre Pio in a single year.

Padre Pio’s cell is as he left it. His meager furnishings – bed, chair, table, etc. – all remain, as do the books and the items he hung on his wall. As the cell is quite small, there would not be enough room for visitors. To allow visitors to see into the cell, the end wall of the cell has been removed and a glass/plastic wall installed. It is from the window in this cell that he would offer a blessing on pilgrims who would gather outside in the evening. It is also where, seated on the chair that can be seen in the photo above, Padre Pio left this earthly life and passed into heaven, surrounded by his brother Capuchins.

Adjacent to the cell is the now enclosed terrace where Padre Pio used to rest and talk with his brothers and friends, and where he briefly sat on the evening of his death. Today the terrace windows look out on the new Church Of Padre Pio.

Other sites to visit:

House for the Relief of Suffering (“Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”):

Adjacent to the older churches and the monastery is the hospital that Padre Pio started in 1947. People questioned why he would build a hospital in such a remote region and expected the project to fail, and the hospital to close. Instead the hospital, dedicated on May 5, 1956, has thrived and is now one of the largest and most advanced in Italy. After Padre Pio celebrated an outdoor Mass in front of the hospital to dedicate the facility, he then toured the facility and blessed every department, the personnel and equipment to be used. Later he would visit patients on occasion.

The House for the Relief of Suffering can be visited and tours are available.

Office for the Prayer Groups:

The Prayer Groups are administered through the House for the Relief of Suffering since it was to serve this facility that Padre Pio originally started the prayer group movement. The Office of the Prayer Groups is located on the Viale Cappuccini in front of the House for the Relief of Suffering, only steps from the monastery.

Stations of the Cross:

Between the older churches and the House for the Relief of Suffering is a large stair and walk with the stations of the cross. Pilgrims will note that Simon of Cyrene is depicted as Padre Pio.

The House of Mary Pyle:

Mary Pyle was a wealthy American heiress who visited San Giovanni Rotondo and met Padre Pio. The meeting changed her life as she converted to Catholocism, and moved to the town. Padre Pio became her spiritual director. Mary Pyle used her funds to benefit the works of Padre Pio, including the founding of a seminary in the saints's hometown. She built a large house in San Giovanni Rotondo, which served as a headquarters for the group of volunteers who joined her in supporting the monks of Padre Pio's monastery, doing things such as mending their habits, etc. Mary also served as the church organist. Mary's house also became a center for many pilgrims visiting the town as she provided free meals and free lodging in her home. Also, it was Mary Pyle who nursed and cared for both Padre Pio's mother and father in their later years. Both would spent their final days under her loving care in her home. Today the home is a musem and is open for visitors.