Catholic World News News Feature

Imitate Padre Pio, in devotion and service, Pope urges faithful June 22, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI held up Padre Pio as a model for all Christians but especially for priests-- for his loving care for those in need, but even more for his deep devotion and prayer-- during a tightly scheduled one-day visit to San Giovanni Rotondo on June 21.

The Holy Father had originally been scheduled to make the flight from Rome to San Giovanni Rotondo by helicopter, but inclement weather forced a change in plans, and he left Rome by airplane, landing at an Italian military base near Foggia, completing the trip by car.

Meeting with members of the Capuchin order to which the beloved friar belonged, the Pope visited the cell where Padre Pio died, and stopped to pray at the tomb of the saint, who was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002. Then he presided at Mass, held in front of the shrine of Our Lady of Grace to accommodate the large congregation.

In his homily the Pope referred to the day's Gospel reading, in which Jesus calmed the storm. In the life of Padre Pio, he said, the "storms" were the devil's attacks, from which the famous Capuchin defended himself "with the armor of God, with'the shield of faith and with 'the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God."

Padre Pio gained international fame for helping others, both as a confessor and spiritual director and as founder of a busy hospital serving those in need. "Guiding souls and alleviating suffering: this is how we can summarise the mission of St. Pio of Pietrelcina," the Pope remarked.

However, in the saint's life these activities came second, Pope Benedict reminded the congregation. "In the first place came prayer." He stressed that the work of Padre Pio makes sense only in the light of the saint's deep devotion. It was through prayer, the Pontiff explained, that Padre Pio conformed himself to the will of God, "to make of him an elected instrument of the perennial power of his Cross: the power of love for souls, forgiveness and reconciliation, spiritual fatherhood, effective solidarity with the suffering. The stigmata, that marked his body, closely united him to the Crucified and Risen Christ."

Pope Benedict stressed the primary importance of prayer, particularly for those who are tempted toward activism. He said:

Many of you, religious and laity, are so taken by the full duties required by the service to pilgrims, or the sick in the hospital, you run the risk of neglecting the real need: to listen to Christ to do the will of God. When you see that you are close to running this risk, look to Padre Pio.

Later in the day the Pope visited the Home for the Relief of Suffering, the 1,000-bed hospital that Padre Pio founded in 1956. Speaking to patients and staff there, Pope Benedict remarked: "Suffering is part of the very mystery of the human person." While we can ease the suffering of some people, he continued, it is humanly impossible to abolish suffering altogether, because it is part of the consequence of evil in the world. "The only person who can eliminate the power of evil is God," he said, adding: "Padre Pio was aware of this profound truth."

Next Pope Benedict spoke at the church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, to a large group that had gathered there. Reminding them that the Church has just begun a special Year for Priests, the Holy Father held up Padre Pio as a model for pastors, particularly because of his remarkable capacity for hearing confessions. "How many long hours did he spend in the confessional!" the Pope recalled, saying that this example is especially needed today to help revive interest in the sacrament. For the Capuchin said, the Pope said, "the care of souls and the conversion of sinners was a yearning that consumed him until his death."

Again the Pope reminded his listeners that the astonishingly broad pastoral influence of Padre Pio was due entirely to his profound life of prayer. In that respect too he is a model for today's Catholics, both clerics and lay people, the Holy Father said:

At times we may feel a certain discouragement in the face of the weakening and even abandonment of the faith which we see in our secularized societies. It is certainly important to find new channels to communicate the evangelical truth to the men and women of our time, but since the essential content of Christian announcement always remains the same, it is necessary to return to its original source, to Jesus Christ, Who "is the same yesterday and today and forever."

After this third public appearance of the day, Pope Benedict returned to the airport for his flight back to Rome, finally reaching the Vatican at 8:15.