By Shaun McAfee, National Catholic Register - St. Pio’s life of holiness stands as a powerful testimony to the redemptive nature of suffering.
St. Pio of Pietrelcina, born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, is one of the most revered saints of the Catholic Church. From a young age, he demonstrated a deep devotion to God, often experiencing visions and spiritual phenomena that set him apart from his peers. He joined the Capuchins at 15 and took the name Pio in honor of Pope Pius I.