@12 Bilocation

Bilocation is the simultaneous presence of the same person in two different places.

Padre Pio after he received the wounds in 1918 never left San Giovanni Rotondo, yet many people have seen him and spoken to him in places scattered all over the globe; even today.

Padre Romolo da San Marco in Lamis testified on June 20, 1921: “Padre Pio repeats very often the words of the sacramental absolution, Especially the words absolvo and peccatis. We have heard him at an open window, in sacristy, even during Mass. This might be related to bilocation.”^{^[9]}

Padre Pio questioned by Bishop Rossi, inquisitor sent by the Holy Office, under oath, in 1921, about bilocation: “It did happen to me to be in the presence of this or that person, in this or that place. I do not know if my mind was transported there, or what I saw was some sort of representation of the place or person. I do not know if I was there with my body, or without it.”^{^[10]}

For example “One night I found myself at the bedside of a sick woman, Maria Massa, in San Giovanni Rotondo. I was in the convent. I think I was praying. I didn’t know her personally. She had been recommended to me. It must have been over a year ago.”^{^[11]}

Giovanna Rizzani

Padre Pio was 18, and studying philosophy in Sant'Elia a Pianisi, when he experienced bilocation for the first time.

He had the presence of mind to write down his experience within three weeks and consign it to his superiors.^{^[12]}

He wrote on February 1905: "Few days ago an unusual thing happened to me. I was in the choir with Fra’ Atanasio at about 11 PM on January 18, 1905, when I found myself far away in Udine, were a father was dying and a child was being born." The Virgin Mary told me: 'I'm entrusting this child to you. One day she will come to you, but you will meet her first in Saint Peter’s.’ After that I found myself back in the choir.”^{^[13]} ^{^[14]}

The girl to be born was Marchioness Giovanna Rizzani Boschi. Vanina for her friends.^{^[15]} She is one of 6 witnesses who testified at the Process of beatification. Her life was full of coincidences that don't have a rational explanation. She was born January 18, 1905.

Padre Pio handwritten note was kept for years by Padre Agostino. Later he gave it to Giovanna. Giovanna asked Padre Pio about it and he confirmed the authenticity.^{^[16]} ^{^[17]} ^{^[18]}

The dying person was Giovanni Battista Rizzani. His wife Leonilde had been praying at his bedside, hoping for a last-minute conversion. Leonilde saw a young Capuchin standing over the husband’s bed. As soon she looked at him, he left the room and disappeared down the hallway.

She was then caught by violent contraction and gave birth to a five weeks premature girl.

After the death of her husband, Leonilde moved with her daughter to Rome, to live with her parents.

In the summer of 1922 Giovanna went with a friend for confession in St. Peter’s basilica. When they arrived it was almost closing time and they were told to come back next day. On the way out Giovanna saw a Capuchin hurriedly enter a confessional. She immediately went to him and confessed. After confession she and her friend waited for the Capuchin to get out, to greet him. The custodian saw them and asked them to live. They told him about the Capuchin in the confessional. The man looked in the confessional. It was empty.

He told her: “I know you. You were born the day your father died. I have been waiting for you all these years.” She replied: “You are mistaking me for someone else.” Padre Pio: “No. You already know me. Last year in St. Peter's I was the capuchin priest who confessed you. Don’t you remember?"

Padre Pio continued: "Giovanna, the Virgin Mary took me to Udine just before you were born to be, and I witnessed your father's death. Our Lady informed me that his wife was about to give birth to a girl and that she was placing this child under my care. My daughter, you are my responsibility. One day you will be present at my death."

Giovanna was perplexed and filled with emotion. She said: “Should I become a nun?” Padre Pio: “No. Come frequently to San Giovanni Rotondo and I will guide your soul.”

Many years later she heard the voice of Padre Pio: “Come soon to San Giovanni Rotondo because I’m going away.” Giovanna was now an elderly lady. She went accompanied by her friend Margherita Hamilton four days before Padre Pio’s death. She confessed to him, and he concluded: “I absolve you now of all the sins you have ever committed. I am going away.”

The night of Padre Pio’s death Giovanna woke up suddenly and said to her friend “Padre Pio is dead.” They both left the hotel room and went toward the convent in the middle of the night. Already a small crowd had gathered in the square in front of the church were a friar was announcing the death of Padre Pio.

Later she described the vision she had of Padre Pio's cell the night he died. She reported every detail of what had happened, and described every person that was in the room.^{^[19]} ^{^[20]} ^{^[21]} ^{^[22]} ^{^[23]} ^{^[24]} ^{^[25]}

On September 23, 1978 Padre Paolo Covino, who had administered the last rites to Padre Pio, was on the square of the church of St. Mary of the Graces. A woman asked him: “Are you Padre Paolo? I saw you in a vision, administering the last rites to Padre Pio on September 23, 1968.” The lady was Giovanna Rizzani.^{^[26]}

Padre Vittore

Padre Vittore da Canosa was dying in his cell in the Foggia convent. He told Padre Rosario: “What a grace I received this evening! If I live I will write it down; if not, I will tell you about it.” Those were his last words. He died without being able to write or tell of the grace received. Padre Rosario later told other friars about the episode.

One of them, Padre Francesco, reported that at the time of the death of Padre Vittore he was in San Giovanni Rotondo taking care of Padre Pio. Padre Pio was ill, alone in his room. Padre Francesco heard that Padre Pio was talking to somebody but he couldn’t understand anything. A bit later he went to Padre Pio and told him that he had heard him talking while nobody else was in his room. Padre Pio: “Yes. I was hearing someone’s confession.”^{^[27]}

In 1918 Nina Campanile, one of the first spiritual daughters of Padre Pio, did not know what bilocation is. Her sister had multiple severe internal injuries in a fall, and fell in a coma. The doctors said that nothing could be done but wait for her to die. Nina run to the friary and Padre Pio told her that her sister would recover. Nina went back to her sister but she was still unresponsive. She called, pinched, and tapped her to no avail. A friend of Nina’s was there in the room and all of a sudden she turned pale.

Nina asked her if she was getting sick. She replied: “Padre Pio is here.” Nina: “What do you mean?” The friend: “Padre Pio has come near your sister, and he said: “Poor child!” After ten minutes she said: “Now he has gone away.” Nina was very puzzled. She was now looking at her sister, and saw her suddenly regain consciousness and say: “I feel much better.” Nina looked at her watch. It was 8:00 PM.

The morning after Nina went straight to the convent, and asked Padre Pio point blank: “What time did you come to my house last night?” Without batting an eye he said in a matter of fact way: “Around eight o clock.”^{^[28]} ^{^[29]}

Margherita

Margherita Cassano was sharing a small flat with two other girls. She got up every morning to go to Padre Pio’s Mass. She was waken up “by the alarm clock in the hallway”. On day she told Padre Pio: “I saved some money and would like to by my own alarm clock. What do you think?” Padre Pio: “Well, it’s about time!” She bought the alarm clock and brought it home. She told the other girls: “Listen, don’t worry anymore to set up the alarm for me in the morning. The girls: “What are you talking about? There is never been an alarm clock in the house!”^{^[30]}

Padre Alessio entered Padre Pio’s room one night and found him shivering even though it was a warm evening. He piled blankets upon him without result. Later he learned that at that very hour, a man dying high in the Alps insisted that Padre Pio was present at his side.^{^[31]}

Desiderio Magnani of Padua in August 1962 was repairing the car in his garage, lying in a cavity beneath it. The car suddenly caught fire and caused very severe burns, including his face. In the hospital the doctors gave little hope of survival because of 60% of the body burned, high fever, kidney block and heart failure. His sister sent a telegram to Padre Pio. The next day Desiderio wakened as if from a deep sleep and told his sister that he had seen a friar besides his bed, who blessed him. In a short while he was completely healed.^{^[32]}

On December 13, 1941 Padre Agostino asked Padre Pio: “Are you going to Pietrelcina for the grand opening of the convent?” “I will be there in Pietrelcina, and at the same time I will be in the confessional in San Giovanni Rotondo.”^{^[33]} ^{^[34]}

In 1951 the new church of the Holy Family in Pietrelcina was consecrated. Padre Alberto D’Apolito went to the ceremony from San Giovanni Rotondo. Upon his return he told Padre Pio: “Someday you should go and see how beautiful the church is!” Padre Pio: “I was there. I can describe to you the minutest details, such as the number of steps to the entrance; and this is something that you don’t know!”^{^[35]} Padre Alberto later wrote: “In fact, I had never counted the steps.”^{^[36]}

On July 18, 1942, Padre Benedetto, former spiritual director of Padre Pio, was dying in the convent of San Severo. Padre Aurelio, the guardian, asked him if he would like them to send for Padre Pio.

Padre Benedetto replied: “No, there is no need to send for him. He is here beside me.”^{^[37]} ^{^[38]}

In the early days, Padre Nazareno went in town with Padre Pio to visit a Franciscan tertiary gravely ill. The day after he reported to Padre Pio that she had died during the night. Padre Pio said: “I know. I assisted her. She went straight to Paradise.”

In 1970 Madre Speranza di Collevalenza (now Venerable) told journalist Renzo Allegri: “At the Holy Office I saw Padre Pio every day for a whole year. He used some half gloves on his hands to hide the wounds. I would greet him, kiss his hand, and sometimes we exchanged some words. This took place between 1937 and 1939 when I was working at Sant'Uffizio (Holy Office).”^{^[39]}

While the pope was speaking during the meeting, a Capuchin friar appeared, knelt, and kissed his feet saying "Your Holiness, for the good of the Church, do not take this course of action." He then asked for the Popès blessing, kissed his feet again, rose, and left.

The pope asked: "Who let that friar in?" The prelates run outside to upbraid the guards for letting the friar in. All the guards strongly denied having seen any friar.

The Pope grew silent. Than he ordered Cardinal Silj to ascertain were Padre Pio was that day and hour.

Silj went to San Giovanni Rotondo with his sister in law Countess Virginia Silj-Salviucci. Cardinal Silj asked the superior of the convent, giving him details, were was Padre Pio at that certain date and time. The superior gave him the details requested.

Cardinal Silj reported to the Pope that Padre Pio was in the choir of his friary, saying the Office. Pope Pius XI never mentioned again of suspending Padre Pio from his priestly faculties.

This episode was reported by Countess Virginia Silj-Salviucci to Padre Pio Dellepiane, and revealed only after the Pope Pius XI’s death. ^{^[42]} ^{^[43]}

General Luigi Cadorna, Supreme Commander of the Italian Army, after the defeat of Caporetto, on November 12, 1917 was about to pull the trigger to shoot himself. A friar appeared in front of him. "General, you will not do this stupidity!" The General didn’t.

After the war Cadorna recognized Padre Pio in a picture, and went to visit him unannounced.

Padre Pio from afar: "Yeah, general, we had a narrow escape that night!"^{^[44]} ^{^[45]}

Captain of infantry

“I was a Captain of infantry. One day during a terrible battle I saw a friar ho told me: “Captain, leave that place.” I went towards him, and before I reached him a grenade exploded on the spot where I had been. I looked back and there was a large hole there. I would have been blown away. I looked at the friar again, but he was no more there. Other fellow soldiers told me similar episodes, talking about a friar in San Giovanni Rotondo. In 1919, after the war I went there out of curiosity. When I saw Padre Pio in the sacristy I said: “That’s him. I can’t be mistaken.” I told Padre Pio: “Thank you for saving me from death.” Padre Pio replied: “You don’t have to thank me, son. You have to thank the Lord and the Virgin.”[46]

Francesco Cavicchi and his wife visited Padre Pio in June 1967. He had confessed three days before, but wanted to confess to Padre Pio anyway. The rule was at least seven days. He stood in line and when his turn was approaching he got agitated. But Padre Pio calling him from the line said: "Come forward, my son, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Padre Pio started the confession asking: "How many days has it been since last confession?" Francesco said that he couldn't remember. Padre Pio: "You have a short memory, don't you? But let me ask you this. Do you remember the bombardment In Rimini many years back? Do you remember the air raid shelter? Do you remember the trolley bus? But why I'm asking you to go back in time? You cannot even remember what you did less than a week ago!"

At that point Francesco started recollecting that in November 1943, when he was 28 years old, he was riding the trolley bus with about ten other people, including a middle aged monk. Than the bombs started falling, Francesco had difficulty getting off the bombed bus to reach the air-raid shelter and thought he was about to die. The monk helped him.

The capuchin monk once in the shelter began to recite the rosary and inspired calm and confidence in everyone. After the sirens gave the 'all clear’ signal, the capuchin monk was the first to leave.

Padre Francesco Napolitano had just returned from New York and was describing to the friars in the refectory what he had seen in America. Padre Pio was intent on listening to him, and then said: “You have been there only once. I have been hundreds of times.^{^[47]}

America

Padre Rosario da Aliminusa, superior of the convent for three years, wrote down a diary of what was going on about Padre Pio. He wrote of a woman in America. She had an incurable tumor, and she saw Padre Pio, who assured her that she would be cured. She was cured and lived a normal life.

Days after, Padre Eusebio da Castelpetroso read the description and told Padre Pio: “So you took a trip to America. I found out that you went to see a lady who had a tumor.” Padre Pio: “How did you find out?” Padre Eusebio did not answer the question, but asked Padre Pio how did he manage the language. Padre Pio: “How many miracles do you expect the Lord to perform!”^{^[48]}

“Father, would you take me for spiritual child?” “Yes.” “But next week I will be living for America.” Padre Pio: "And you think that I can't reach you there and slap you if you don't behave?”^{^[49]}

Father Joseph Pius reported that in 1967 an American Lady turned up at the convent. She had been lying in St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York, dying of cancer. On day while she was praying she saw padre Pio appear at her bedside. He smiled at her, blessed her, and then was gone. The woman recovered completely.^{^[50]}

On June 25, 1950 Padre Pio was seen attending to the death of a fellow monk in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, without leaving the convent. When asked about it he said:

Dominic's father

Padre Dominic Meyer’s father was dying in Wisconsin, while he was in San Giovanni Rotondo helping Padre Pio. The last time he has seen his father, he had made a request: “Son, you are Padre Pio’s friend, you know him well, will you ask him to help me here when my time comes?”

The first time Padre Dominic was alone with Padre Pio, he explained, apologized, and made the request. Padre Pio slowly nodded. The father was staying in the house of a married daughter.

On a beautiful afternoon, since he couldn’t walk, the daughter and her husband helped him to sit on the porch. When they went to bring him back to his room he was not on the porch. Not a step had been heard, nor a door opening or closing.

They hurried to his bedroom, and there he was, lying in bed, eyes closed, and mouth slightly open. “And Dominic,” said his sister, “we saw a Host on his tongue.”[51]

Andrea Bacile form San Martino in Pensilis was frequently rude with his wife and children. One day that he was particularly misbehaved, he saw Padre Pio in front of him. He had seen in him in pictures, but never in person. He was shocked. He asked to confess. Padre Pio said “No”; and then disappeared.

Andrea apologized to his wife and children and started a pilgrimage on foot to San Giovanni Rotondo. For three days he walked without resting or eating. When he reached the convent he confessed to Padre Pio. After the absolution Padre Pio said: “Now go eat something.”^{^[53]}

The evening of January 20th, 1936, Dr. Guglielmo Sanguinetti, was talking to Padre Pio in his cell.

Suddenly Padre Pio took to his knees and urged them to pray “for a soul that is soon to appear before the tribunal of God.” Afterwards Padre Pio said: “Do you know for whom you prayed? It was for the King of England.” Around midnight padre Pio went to the room of Padre Aurelio: "Let's pray for a soul which at this moment is about to appear at the tribunal of God.”

In 1982, Alice Jones, a teacher, Episcopalian, had been bedridden for ten years after multiple surgeries for a neurofibroma paralyzing the left side. One day rev. Eric Fisher, a catholic priest went to pray with her. “The priest was kneeling at my bedside. Suddenly was like another person came out of rev. Fisher. I was terrorized at the sight. It had the face of an old man with a beard. He showed me his hands with a hole. He put his hands on me. He said: ‘Get up and go.’ I did. I was crippled no more.” Few days later I recognized the old man in a picture of Padre Pio.”^{^[60]}

Christy Gallagher from Donegal, Ireland, was very ill in a hospital bed. He told his wife: “Padre Pio came to see me; he asked me whether I would like to have Communion. I did.”

It was September 23, 1968. He was brimming with joy. Few hours later he heard over the radio the announcement that Padre Pio had died.^{^[61]}

A man living alone in his apartment in Rome had planned to visit Padre Pio. Lately there had been several burglaries in his neighborhood. There were no alarm systems at the time. He was undecided if to go, and prayed Padre Pio: “I will come, but you watch my house.”

He went to padre Pio, confessed, then decided to stay a little longer. The day after Padre Pio passing in the hallway told him: “You are still here? I am working protecting your door.”^{^[62]}

Padre Eusebio Notte plucked up courage to ask Padre Pio: “You know this man’s house. Don’t you?” “How could I? I have not left the convent for so many years!” “But he saw you!” “Ah! That’s a different story. When this things occur the Lord only permits the person concerned to be seen, not the surroundings.”^{^[63]}

In 1926 Concetta Bellarmini, while in critical condition, was suggested to pray Padre Pio. She did not know Padre Pio but prayed for his intercession. Later, a capuchin friar standing and smiling at her bedside said: “Sunday morning you will be healed."

She did recover. Weeks later she went to thank Padre Pio. From afar she exclaimed: 'That's him. That's exactly him."^{^[64]} ^{^[65]}

Maria Pompilio, a spiritual daughter living near the convent, testified that one evening she was praying when she began to doze off. Someone slapped her on the right cheek and the hand seemed the one of Padre Pio. The day after, she asked Padre Pio if he had slapped her. Padre Pio: "That's what happens when you doze off while you are praying."^{^[66]}

Maria Pompilio testified that a man seeing Padre Pio remove his vestments in the sacristy after Mass, said: 'Yes, he is the one. I'm not mistaken.' Then, kneeling and in tears said over and over: 'Padre, thank you for saving my life.'

Outside the church he told his story to Maria Pompilio and other onlookers who had been in the sacristy.

He said: 'I was captain in the infantry in the battlefield under heavy fire. I saw a monk a short distance away who called me.' "Captain come here by immediately." 'I did, and even before I reached him a grenade exploded were I had been, leaving a hole in the ground. When I turned back the monk was not there anymore.'^{^[67]}

Savino Greco from Cerignola had a brain tumor and another tumor in the back of his right eye. He went to a specialist in Bari, and the diagnosis was confirmed. He was transferred to Milan for surgery. He had a dream of Padre Pio who told him: “With time you will be cured.” When the time came to operate, he was so scared that run away from the hospital. He went to stay with a cousin in Milan.

After few days the pain was so intense that he decided he had no choice but to try surgery. Back in the hospital the surgeon did a pre operatory examination with the other doctors. During the examination Savino smelled an intense perfume of violets, roses, and lilies. When the doctors finished the examination they were completely amazed. There was no trace of any tumor. They said he could go home.^{^[68]}

Maria Pompilio wrote in her “Memorie di Padre Pio” that when her brother died, she asked Padre Pio to intercede so that he could come in her dreams.

Her brother came in a dream and said: "Padre Pio assisted me in my agony. He stayed until the Judge judged me. I was given eleven years of Purgatory, but for intercession of Padre Pio the pain was reduced to one year. Many mysteries in the life of Padre Pio will be known only in the other world."

The morning after Maria went to see Padre Pio. From afar he said: "Are you glad now?" "Yes, it seems that you are everywhere." Padre Pio replied: "What sense has for me being on earth if I can't go up and down. I know. Your brother told you that the mystery of my life will be known only in Paradise."

On January 29, 1957 in Alençon (France) Daniel Batonnier was about to die of cerebrospinal meningitis. The mother at 13:30 sent a telegram to Padre Pio. At 16:00 the child was fully recovered. The doctors were puzzled.

The child, seeing a picture of Padre Pio, said: 'Mom, I know that friar. He came to see me twice today. He was humming so as not to scare me, and then he left. Mom when I grow up I want to be a friar like him'.

Padre Pio brings to Cardinal Mindszenty bread and wine to celebrate mass. Mosaic in St. Pio's crypt.

In 1956 Padre Pio served the Mass of Cardinal Mindszenty while he was incarcerated in Budapest. The news spread. Padre Pio was asked: "Did you really talk to him, did you really see him? “Certainly, if I have talked to him, I must have seen him."

In another occasion he was asked: 'Did you visit Cardinal Mindszenty while he was prisoner in Budapest in 1956?' "Yes. I have seen him and spoken to him."[69]

Saint Luigi Orione made this statement: "I saw Padre Pio in St. Peter's Basilica the day that Saint Therese of the Child Jesus was declared blessed. He came smiling towards me, walking through the crowds. He disappeared when we were few feet away from each other."

Padre Bonaventura was preaching in 1956 in the basilica of the Holy Spirit in Naples. Padre Pio appeared in the church for about forty minutes. Everybody in the assembly saw him. Padre Bonaventura wrote to Padre Carmelo, superior at the convent, about it. Padre Carmelo thought of a hallucination, and asked Padre Pio: “Is Padre Bonaventura right?” Padre Pio answered: “Yes, it is true. It is true.”^{^[74]}

Padre Domenico Petracca da Cesa Manoppello, a Capuchin friar who had been friend with Padre Pio since 1940 reported that early in the morning of September 22, 1968 he went to open the church at Manoppello, located more than 200 kilometers away to the north of San Giovanni Rotondo, in the province of Abruzzi.

Inside the church he found Padre Pio on his knees in the first row pew, his head in his hands, before the image known as the Holy Face.

Padre Pio said to him: “I do not trust myself any more. Pray for me. Goodbye until we meet again in Paradise.”

A woman went stay with her daughter and son in law in Bologna, while waiting to have surgery for a malignant tumor in her arm. She was sitting alone in the living room when a capuchin friar came through the door. "I am Padre Pio da Pietralcina".

He exhorted her to have faith in the Madonna and blessed her arm. Then he said good bye and left. The day after she met the doctor to go over the details of the surgical intervention. The surgeon examined the arm. There was no trace of the tumor.

Padre Umile, friend of Padre Pio was bedridden in Genova because of a fall. On September 22, 1968 at 4:30 PM Sister Ludovica brought to Padre Umile a cup of tea.

In entering the room she felt and intense perfume of flowers. Padre Umile said to her: "Padre Pio went to say me the last goodbye." Few hours later Padre Pio died.^{^[75]}

On October 24, 1949 the newspaper Il Progresso Italo-Americano reported this story.

Giacomo Cadice had run away from home. In time the parents received a letter form Sidi-Bel-Abess in Algeria, where he stated that he had joined the Foreign Legion and would have to stay there for five years. His father Pietro went to Padre Pio asking for help. Padre Pio said: “Go and pray. By the third moon your son will return home!”

Next part of the story was told by the son himself. One night he was on guard at an advanced post, when he saw a friar gesturing with the hand to follow him. They went across the desert for days, than embarked on a ship for Marseille in France, and the friar disappeared. From there Giacomo reached his home, joining his family. When Pietro showed his son a picture of Padre Pio, he immediately recognized the friar and started crying.^{^[76]} ^{^[77]} ^{^[78]}

Giovanni Gigliozzi was in a broadcasting studio in Rome, about to get on air when he got a terrible blinding attack of migraine. He knew that it would last for hours and he couldn’t do a thing about it.

Suddenly he heard steps toward him. He opened his eye and Padre Pio was there. He did not speak a word. He just gazed at him with an affectionate smile and laid his hand on his head, and disappeared. So too did the migraine.

Days later in the hallway of the convent Padre Pio told him: “Well, Giovanni how is the head? Ah! These hallucinations!”^{^[79]}

Padre Alberto reported that one afternoon on May 1928 he approached Padre Pio who was standing at the window. He had the gaze fixed and was pronouncing the words of absolution in a very clear voice. Padre Alberto called Padre Tommaso, the superior, and both saw and heard Padre Pio concluding the absolution.

Few days later a telegram came to Padre Tommaso from a city in northern Italy, thanking him for having sent Padre Pio to assist a dying man.^{^[80]} ^{^[81]}

Padre Carmelo, superior of the convent, decided to have meetings with the group of early spiritual daughters, at the Ventrella's house, to gather firsthand information about the beginning of Padre Pio's ministry in San Giovanni Rotondo.

The meetings were held on December 14, 1954, on January 10 and 25, 1955, and at later dates. Ten spiritual daughter were present: the Ventrella sisters, the Pompilio sisters, Filomena Fini, Rosinella Gisolfi in Placentino,

Padre Carmelo testified: 'During the first meeting Rachelina Gisolfi told everybody that Padre Pio was present. Back to the convent I didn't have the courage to ask Padre Pio about it. During the second meeting Rachelina said again that Padre Pio was there. Back to the convent I took the courage and asked him.

Padre Pio’s answer: "Why? You don't want me there? You don't want that I come to those meetings?"

After the third meeting, back to the convent, Padre Carmelo got this answer: "Yes I was there." After another meeting Padre Pio asked Padre Carmelo: "How come you don't ask me anymore if I came to the meeting?"^{^[82]}

In 1953 Padre Pio was sitting with other monks for a play in the hall of the friary. Padre Carmelo, the Superior, was sitting by him. He reported that Padre Pio during the intermission "placed his arms on the back of the chair in front of him and rested his head on them, remaining silent and motionless for few minutes". ^{^[83]}

The next day, Padre Carmelo went to visit an invalid sick man in town and was amazed when the man and his family expressed their appreciation for permitting Padre Pio to go visit the man the previous evening. Padre Carmelo asked about the time and the duration of the visit. They matched perfectly with the intermission.^{^[84]}

Ettore Masone was Padre Pio's only nephew. He was not yet thirty when he became gravely ill, fell into a coma, and appeared dead. The family made arrangements for the funeral next day. But all of a sudden he woke up and shouted: "I'm not dying anymore."

He recovered completely and instantly. He recalled: I was at the gates of heaven and saw my sister Giuseppina who died many years ago standing there at the door. Then I also saw Padre Pio. Both wouldn't let me in." That's when he woke up.^{^[85]}

In 1952 a woman was about to die during delivery because of an erroneous blood transfusion. She received the Last Rites. When the priest left, she saw a monk. "I am Padre Pio and you will not die. Say an 'Our Father' and one day you will come to see me."

About a year later she went to see Padre Pio. He told her: "You got the miracle because the Sacred Heart sent me to save you, since you are devout to him and did the First Fridays of each month."

The father of a capuchin friar from Maglie (Lecce) lay in bed, paralyzed with a spinal disorder. The friar asked Padre Pio to pray for him. One afternoon the sick man saw a bearded friar at his bedside. The friar gently told him: “Suffer, suffer with patience”. The following day the same thing happened, and the man was not improving. The afternoon visits continued.

On the tenth day the visiting friar said: “Enough is enough.” From then on the man started rapidly improving, and after few days he was able to go back to farming. The farmer explained to his capuchin son what had happened, and he recognized Padre Pio in a picture shown to him.^{^[86]}

The sister of Mons. Luigi D’Indico, the pastor of St. Joseph in the Santa Croce neighborhood of Florence, Italy, was in a comatose state, suffering from paratyphoid A and B. The family prayed Padre Pio.

On July 20, 1921 at 2:30 PM, Mons. D’Indico was working in his office. He felt that somebody was behind him. He turned and saw a friar walking and leaving the room. He asked his secretary who was that friar.

The secretary thought that monsignor was under stress because his sister was close to death, and he was having hallucinations.

At the same hour, Mons. D’Indico’s sister saw Padre Pio at her bedside. He told her: “Do not worry, tomorrow the fever will disappear, and in few days there will be no trace of the illness in your body.” She got rapidly better, and in few days was completely healed.^{^[87]} ^{^[88]} ^{^[89]} ^{^[90]}

A woman went to Padre Pio’s Mass, leaving her child at home. When she returned, the daughter was eating a candy. The mom asked where she got the candy. The child pointed at a picture of Padre Pio. Later, after the confession, Padre Pio said to the woman: “Did you want a candy too?”

The only child of Antonio Massa, of San Giovanni Rotondo, was gravely ill and parents and relatives took turns taking care of him. One evening he suddenly started laughing and told his mom: “Mommy, Mommy, Padre Pio tickled my feet.” He was recovered.^{^[91]}

Padre Michelangelo Bellini reported that his grandma was over eighty years old and in a coma, when he prayed Padre Pio that she could live long enough to see him celebrate his first Mass.

By the morning she had made an extraordinary recovery and told him that she had dreamed that a monk had brought her ten more years of life. She lived exactly for ten more years.

Joe Spada was hospitalized with terminal cancer in 1975. He, his wife, the nurses and other people at the hospital were frequently overcome by the beautiful aroma of fresh flowers.

One night Joe was alone and saw Padre Pio sitting beside him. When his wife Margie returned, her eyes fell on a handkerchief that she did not recognize. As she reached for it, Joe said, "That's Padre Pio's handkerchief. He put it there on the stand just before he left." Still today on several occasions, Padre Pio's handkerchief has given off the aroma of fresh flowers.

According to tradition in Loreto there is the house in which Mary lived. Several times was reported that Padre Pio had been seen praying there in the evening.

One day Fra Daniele Natale took the courage to ask: “Padre, have you ever been to Loreto?” “No.” “But people have seen you there!” “Oh! That is something different.”

In 1937, Mons. Fernando Damiani, General Vicar of Salto, Uruguay, visiting Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, had an hearth attack that lasted for two hours. Padre Pio was called. He was confessing and went to see Mons. Damiani after the acute phase had subsided. He told him: “I knew that you wouldn’t die, that’s why I continued the confessions.”^{^[92]} Damiani recovered and before returning to Uruguay he asked Padre Pio to be helped in his final moments.

On September 1941 was held in Salto a Congress for Vocations, with the intervention of several bishops, including Archbishop Antonio Maria Barbieri of Montevideo. They were guests at the residence of Mons. Alfredo Viola, Bishop of Salto.

On the 11^th of September, after midnight Mons. Damiani had another hearth attack. Mons. Barbieri heard a knocking at the door. The door opened, and a voice said: “Go help Mons. Damiani who is dying.”

Mons. Barbieri run to Mons. Damiani. Mons. Damiani asked for the last rites. Four bishops and six priests were present for the extreme unction. A doctor visited the patient and said there was nothing he could do. Mons. Damiani died peacefully about thirty minutes after last rites. On the nightstand there was a draft of a telegram

written with shaking hands: “Padre Pio San Giovanni Rotondo – Continuous chest pains are wiping me out.”

Mons. Viola went to San Giovanni Rotondo several times after Mons. Damiani’s death. He wrote an account of the event, and gave it to the convent.

In 1949 Mons Barbieri talked to Padre Pio about the event. Padre Pio tried to dodge the questions and said smiling: “If you understood, let’s not talk about it. How much more do you want to know?”^{^[103]} ^{^[104]}

In1958 Mons Viola gave to the friary a written sworn description on the events.^{^[105]}

Mons. Barbieri asked Padre Pio to assist him on his deathbed. Padre Pio:”I will die before you will, but I’ll assist you from heaven”. Barbieri survived Padre Pio by eleven years.^{^[106]}

On November 1921 Mother Teresa Salvadores was dying from cancer of the stomach and a lesion of the aorta, in Montevideo, Uruguay. Monsignor Damiani, when in San Giovanni Rotondo, had obtained a glove of Padre Pio. Damiani applied the glove to her stomach and to her throat. She fell asleep, and when she awoke she was cured. She reported that while asleep Padre Pio touched her side “in the place were it hurt”, than breathed on her “and spoke of such things that were not of this earth.” ^{^[107]} ^{^[108]} ^{^[109]} ^{^[110]}

Dr. Cardone

Dr. Andrea Cardone made a written statement soon after Padre Pio’s death: “I, the undersigned, Dr. Andrea Cardone, declare that I had a conversation with Padre Pio on two occasions in my home in Pietrelcina. The first was on February 18, 1965, at 9:00 AM, the second of September 23, 1968, at 6:00 AM. On both occasions Padre Pio was present in his mortal flesh, and our conversation lasted several minutes.”^{^[111]}

Coward

One young man in Rome was ashamed of his normal custom of tipping his hat when passing in front of a Catholic church. He was scared that his friends would make fun of him. But one time he heard Padre Pio’s voice in his ear saying: “Coward.” Later on, he met Padre Pio in person and without saying anything Padre Pio said: “Next time it will be a loudspeaker in the ear!”^{^[112]} ^{^[113]} ^{^[114]}

Paris De Nunzio from Pietrelcina went to visit Padre Pio by car with a friend who fell asleep at the wheel. While the car was swerving uncontrolled, Paris cried: “Padre Pio help us.”

The friend woke up and regained control of the car. At the convent, Padre Pio: "Well you all arrived safe. I was driving the car."

Driving for Enrico Medi

Professor Enrico Medi reports that he was driving the narrow road to San Giovanni, thinking that it was his daughter's birthday and she was blowing the candles at that time.

He missed a narrow bend of the road, and was about to crash in an incoming car. But the cars stopped few inches from each other.

That afternoon Padre Pio seeing him said: "You blow the candles, and I drive the car."

Father John Esseff at the home of Mary Pyle

Father John Esseff, from Scranton, Pennsylvania, in May of 1959, accompanied by his friend Father Bob Calligan, made his first trip to Europe.

After visiting Rome, they wanted to see Padre Pio, but were told it was difficult to approach him. They were told to reach San Giovanni Rotondo and then ask for a woman by the name of Mary Pyle “because she might get us to see him.”

They did, “and Mary Pyle invited us to go to her cottage and have something to eat. She put on the table some wine, some bread, and some cheese for us. While those simple hospitalities were taking shape, I saw Padre Pio come into the cottage and say to me: “What are you doing here? Are you a curiosity seeker?”

“I was completely surprised! But I answered him what I had been thinking. We talked about Jesus and the Blessed Sacrament. There was no talk of wounds. We talked for about twenty minutes, and then he left. I turned to Mary Pyle and I asked her: “Does he come here often?”

Her reply was strange: “We didn’t know that he was here. If he had a conversation with you, he came to see you. No one else at the table saw him here. He does that frequently. He has the gift of bilocation.”[115]

[1] Ing78, 92

[2] Bru70, 24

[3] Gal95, 124

[4] Gau74, 110

[5] Pas50, 92-3

[6] Cap06, 160-1

[7] Win88, 102

[8] Mor73, 55-78

[9] Cas11, 187-8

[10] Cas11, 208

[11] Cas11, 208

[12] Ruf91, 66

[13] Epist. IV, 1027-9

[14] Alb10, 315-6

[15] Bru70, 105-110

[16] Epist. IV, 1027

[17] Alb10, 251-272

[18] Cap12, 247-50

[19] Ing78, 26-9

[20] Sch87, 14-30

[21] Ias06, 358-9

[22] Gal95, 35-8

[23] Chi99,39-40

[24] Ruf91, 67-70

[25] Alb07, 327-54

[26] Cov07, 241-2

[27] Cap06, 108-10

[28] Ruf91, 144-5

[29] Pag78, I, 42

[30] Duc83, 127-8

[31] Ruf91, 325

[32] Ing78, 89-90

[33] Ago12, 168

[34] Alb07, 129

[35] Ruf91, 326

[36] Alb07, 129

[37] Ing78, 57

[38] Ruf91, 192

[39] Sch87, 45-6

[40] Sch87, 45-6

[41] Alb07, 362-4

[42] Per02, 325-6

[43] Ruf91, 198

[44] Win88, 100

[45] Cap12, 250-1

[46] Positio III/1, 812

[47] Nap76, 183

[48] Nap76, 183-4

[49] Ale11, 142

[50] Gal95, 125

[51] McC78, 33-4

[52] Fer10, 537

[53] Cat91, 49-50

[54] Gal95, 139

[55] Mor73, 27

[56] Ruf91, 241

[57] Gau74, 118

[58] Par011, 267-8

[59] Cap06, 100

[60] Fer10, 638

[61] McC78, 34-6

[62] Cat91, 69-70

[63] Ing78, 92

[64] Cat91, 136-7

[65] Del50, 471-2

[66] Cov07, 34

[67] Ale10, 264-5

[68] Gau74, 119-20

[69] Alle00, 131-3

[70] Win88, 103

[71] Gal95, 124

[72] Del62, 92-3

[73] Nap76, 185

[74] Sch87, 6

[75] Ias06, 335

[76] Cat91, 92-3

[77] Del50, 160-3

[78] Gau74, 111

[79] McC78, 26-8

[80] Sch87, 49

[81] Alb07, 94-5

[82] Ias06, 325

[83] Ruf91, 325

[84] Ruf91, 325

[85] Ruf91, 271

[86] Cat88, 100

[87] Ruf91, 203

[88] Del50, 474-5

[89] Del62, 86-7

[90] Pas50, 93-4

[91] Cap06, 280-1

[92] Ago12, 211 Note

[93] Ago12, 212 Note

[94] Win88, 100-1

[95] Ale11, 207-211

[96] Ale74, 604-7

[97] McC78, 33-4

[98] Ruf91, 243-5

[99] Cap12, 251-21

[100] Del60, 485-7

[101] Gau74,110-1

[102] Nap76, 185

[103] Ago12, 210, Note 210-2

[104] Cap06, 130-1

[105] Ale10, 264-7

[106] Ruf91, 245

[107] Cat91, 129-30

[108] Ruf91, 199-201

[109] Del50, 350-1

[110] Nap76, 149

[111] Ing78, 90

[112] Win149-50

[113] Gau74, 162

[114] Gau74, 163

[115] Ess20, 141-4