Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, born Francesco Forgione, May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Province of Benevento, Kingdom of Italy. Died September 23, 1968 (aged 81). Today is his Feast Day (link)
In September 1918, at age 31, Padre Pio began to display permanent wounds on his hands and feet, known as stigmata in reference to Christ’s wounds. In the next months, his reputation of sainthood grew rapidly in the region of San Giovanni Rotondo, in central Italy near the Adriatic sea coast, where he lived, attracting hundreds of believers at the monastery coming each day to see him. This photo is from 1918. His hands are covered due to the stigmata
Letter #67, 2025, Tuesday, September 23: Padre Pio
Here above is a link to a video, in Italian, yet still very moving for all, of Padre Pio celebrating Mass in the old rite, in 1956.
The video is rare because it shows the entire Mass.
And here is a link to a pdf file of a splendid book, containing many records of spiritual encounters with Padre Pio: link.
Below is an image of the first page and first two lines of the second page of the book.
—RM
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The following article is from Aleteia today (link).
It notes that Pope Leo today spent the Feast of Padre Pio, in Castel Gandolfo, a picturesque village on the rim of a crater lake about 15 miles outside of Rome.
Pope Leo seems to enjoy Castel Gandolfo, and seems to be making it his practice to go there each Monday night, stay there Tuesday, and then return to Rome on Tuesday night, then to receive pilgrims at his Wednesday morning general audience. —RM
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Pope spending Padre Pio feast at Castel Gandolfo
For the third week in a row, Pope Leo has escaped from the busy halls of the Vatican for a day of nature and rest.
Once again, on Monday evening, September 22, 2025, Leo XIV traveled to Castel Gandolfo, to spend his weekly “day off” at the summer papal residence.
With this break in the countryside for the third consecutive week, Leo XIV is signaling a routine of settling down every Tuesday — the popes’ day of rest — away from the bustle of the Vatican.
As on Tuesday, September 9, and Tuesday, September 16, the Holy Father is continuing his activities in this area of the Castelli Romani region before returning to the Vatican on Tuesday evening, according to the Holy See Press Office.
The green setting at Villa Barberini includes a tennis court, garden walks, and a swimming pool.
Shedding the “papal outfit”
On August 15, the Pope’s brother, John Prevost, said in an interview with NBC Chicago that Leo XIV’s rest days in Castel Gandolfo would become “a permanent thing” of this pontificate.
“ … they’re going to try to do it more often because it just is relaxing and away from the crowd — away from the grind, so to speak,” Prevost said. “There really is an opportunity to relax, and he doesn’t have to be dressed in his papal outfit all the time.”
While Francis did not generally take breaks away from the Vatican, Leo XIV is not the first pope to leave the Apostolic Palace on Tuesdays, traditionally considered the pontiffs’ weekly day of rest.
During the early days of his pontificate, John Paul II used to go on mountain excursions on Tuesdays.
[End, Aleteia article on Pope Leo in Castel Gandolfo]
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