Catholic Church prepares for sojourn of St. Padre Pio relic to PHL

The Philippine Catholic Church is preparing for the 20-day "visit" of the relic of Saint Padre Pio—a Capuchin priest who bore the stigmata (scars) of Jesus—to the Philippines.

Fr. Joselin Gonda, Rector of the National Shrine of St. Padre Pio in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, said Wednesday the sojourn of Padre Pio's heart relic marks the the centenary of the appearance of stigmata on his body on September 20 and his 50th death anniversary on September 23.

“Besides, it is the Year of the Clergy and the Consecrated Persons. Padre Pio, given as a role model for them, can be an inspiration and challenge to us to have a heart like his, close to the Eucharistic and forgiving heart like the Lord,” he said.

Gonda said a contingent of devotees from the National Shrine will fly to Italy a week before the relic's arrival to accompany it to the Philippines.

Manila, Cebu, and Davao will host the relic from October 6 to 26. The Philippines follows the United States, Paraguay, and Argentina in the relic's tour.

The Luzon leg will last from October 8 to 10 and will be hosted by the Archdiocese of Manila, the Visayas leg from October 11 to 13, by the Archdiocese of Cebu, and the Mindanao leg from October 14 to 16, by the Archdiocese of Davao.

More details about the tour can be found on the CBCP website. —Rie Takumi/LBG, GMA News