Pope Francis meets with "Padre Pio" Prayer
Groups
(Vatican Radio) Pope
Francis on Saturday greeted members of “Padre Pio” Prayer Groups, who are in Rome to venerate the
relics of the great saint, which have been translated to St. Peter’s Basilica
and are there exposed for veneration by the faithful in connection with the
ongoing Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.
St. Pius of Pietralcina – or
San Padre Pio, as he is popularly known around the world – was a
Capuchin friar with a worldwide reputation during his earthly life as a mystic
and miracle-worker, who was also a tireless confessor and laborer in favor of
the poor, the sick, and the downtrodden.
It is in connection with
efforts to renew appreciation of and rekindle love for the Sacrament of Penance
or Reconciliation that Pope Francis has asked that the relics
of St. Padre Pio be brought to Rome – together with those of
another great Capuchin confessor, St. Leopold Mandic. In remarks
prepared for the occasion of the prayer groups’ visit, Pope Francis reflected
that St. Pius became, through the ministry of Confession, a living caress of
the Father who heals the wounds of sin and restores the heart with peace. “St.
Pius never tired of welcoming persons and listening to them, never tired of
passing time and energy to spread the scent of the Lord’s pardon,” he said.
The “Padre Pio” prayer
groups were founded in the mid-20th century by the saint
himself, and are present in virtually every Italian region and in scores of
countries around the world, and Pope Francis thanked the many
of their number who had made the trip to Rome for the occasion, saying that
prayer is the greatest strength of the Church and that we must never let go of
the habit of prayer, since the Church bears fruit only if she does as Our Lady
and the Apostles, who were, “persevering with one mind in prayer. (Acts 1:14)”
Pope Francis encouraged the
participants to continue in their imitation ofPadre Pio, as apostles of
prayer and as helpers of the sick and needy – and thus to continue to give
example of the great love that builds up the Church, when Christians take and
practice seriously the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
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