Saint Padre Pio
- Feast
- 23 September
- Patron of
- civil defence volunteers, adolescents and stress relief
Born Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina in southern Italy in 1887, he became a Capuchin friar and priest and spent most of his life at the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo. In 1918 he received the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, which he bore for fifty years until his death in 1968. John Paul II canonised him in 2002.
Crowds came to him for confession, and he spent long hours every day in the confessional. He founded a hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo, the Home for the Relief of Suffering. He is shown in the brown Capuchin habit with a white beard, his hands in fingerless mittens over the wounds, and his advice is well known: "Pray, hope, and don't worry."
He is a saint of the last century, known through photographs and living memory, who spent himself on confession and the sick. A patron for anyone who worries, and for a young person who wants a saint of prayer.
The print of Saint Padre Pio
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Padre Pio?
The feast of Saint Padre Pio is kept on 23 September.
What is Saint Padre Pio the patron saint of?
Saint Padre Pio is the patron saint of civil defence volunteers, adolescents and stress relief.
Is Saint Padre Pio a good confirmation saint?
He is a saint of the last century, known through photographs and living memory, who spent himself on confession and the sick. A patron for anyone who worries, and for a young person who wants a saint of prayer.
Is Saint Padre Pio the patron saint of people named Pio?
Yes. Saint Padre Pio is the traditional name saint for anyone called Pio, and the feast on 23 September is their name day.
Choosing for a confirmation? See Confirmation gifts. Any two Charcoal Saints are 15% off.
Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours