Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo: Restrictions. Last years. Death.

1958

On July 30, 1958 a decree from Sant'Uffizio Holy Office, published on the Osservatore Romano, put eight publication about Padre Pio in the Index of forbidden books.

The front page of the "Index" in 1664

On October 28 1958 John XXIII was elected Pope 

1959

On August 6, 1959 Padre Pio was miraculously healed by the Madonna of Fatima.

1960

Starting on May 9, 1960, until the end of August 1960, for about 4 months, Padre Pio's conversations were recorded.

The recordings and their transcription were sent to the Holy Office.

On July 22, 1960 The Holy Office  nominated Mons. Maccari to investigate Padre Pio. He went  to San Giovanni Rotondo On July 30,

as Apostolic Visitator (inspector sent by the Holy Office), with don Giovanni Barberini as secretary.

On August 7, 1960 Maccari and Barberini returned to Rome, and come back on August 14.

On August 10 Padre Pio celebrated 50 years of Ordination to priesthood.

Mons. Montini, Archbishop of Milan congratulated Padre Pio for being "Gratified by so many gifts and so much fruitfulness."

To people congratulating him for the 50th anniversary, Padre Pio: "Fifty years of unworthiness."

On August 16 Maccari orders that an iron gate be erected for better control of the seclusion.

On September 17, Mons. Maccari and Barberini left the convent.

On September 18 Padre Rosario da Aliminusa (Palermo), came as new superior guardian at the convent.

On October 3, 1960 a press release from  Mons. Maccari confirmed:

"New superior, new stringent rules about correspondence, more intense control of seclusion, better attentiveness to contacts whit the faithful.

Mons. Maccari will visit again the convent in the short term."

Mons. Maccari left the convent on September 17. He never came back. Hi gave a written report to the Holy Office.

On October 4, 1960 Padre Pio signed a will declaring his heir  a juridical entity that the Holy See was to constitute after his death.

On November 18,1960 he also signed a document that his 200.000 shares of Casa Sollievo would go to IOR (Vatican).

1961

:On January 31, 1961, Card. Alfredo Ottaviani, secretary of the Holy Office sent a disposition to the Superior General of the Capuchin friars:

"Padre Pio needs to return to the regular capitulary observance.

Priests and Bishops are prohibited to serving Mass to Padre Pio.

The time of the Mass needs to be changed daily.

People in line to confess to Padre Pio need to be distant from the confessional.

Women need to be seen only outside the seclusion area.

Gradual replacement of all the friars at the convent, except for the current Superior Padre Rosario."

On April 24, 1961 came a new disposition from Mons. Pietro Parente, of the Holy Office:

"Padre Pio will celebrate Mass within the time limits of any pious priest, meaning 30 minutes or at most 40 minutes.

Also, he will not celebrate Mass every day at the same time."

Padre Pio: "To obey to the superiors is obeying to God."

On November 19, 1961, Padre Pio signed a letter upon request by Cardinal Amleto Giovanni Cicognani Secretary of State in which he

transferred the property of the House for the Relief of Suffering (Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza) to the Holy See.

1962

July 5, 1962 L'Osservatore Romano" writes about "some newspapers reporting that microphones have been placed in the

confessional of Padre Pio." And called the reports "scandalous, false, and slanderous".

Padre Pio alone in the sacristy

At the end of 1962. Padre Pio was authorized to substitute the reading of the Breviary with the praying of the Rosary.

1963

In October 1962, before the beginning of the first session of the Ecumenical Council, 50 bishops and archbishops and thousands of priests visited Padre Pio.

Pope John XXIII dies on June 3, 1963. Paul VI elected on June 21.

1964

Padre Clemente, apostolic administrator of the province of Foggia, wrote in his diary on January  30, 1969:

 "Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani summoned me to the Holy Office and informed me of the will of the Holy Father that Padre Pio does his ministry in full freedom."

On February 19, 1964 Padre Clemente da Milwaukee, Superior General implemented the order by Cardinal Ottaviani..

The Pope was Paul VI.

Padre Pio helped by Padre Alessio after a ceremony of blessing.

Padre Pio on January 1964: "I'd like to be considered like any other capuchin friar."

On May 11, 1964 Padre Pio signed a document nominating the Holy See legatee and devisee of all his remaining belongings.

December 14, 1964 Padre Pio signed a statement prepared by Cardinal Ottaviani at the Sant'Ufficio:

"... I declare that I have full freedom in my ministry, and that I don't have neither enemies nor persecutors."

." I find in the superior of my Order and in the authority of the Church comprehension, comfort, and protection."

1965

On March 9 1965 Cardinal Bacci was sent by Pope Paul VI to present the

Indult (special permission given personally by the Pope) that Padre Pio could continue to say the Latin Mass, the old way:

 Padre Pio thanked Cardinal Bacci, and than said:" The Council. For pity's sake, end it in a hurry."

March 19 1965:" It's time that the Lord calls me to go with him."

1967

On October 14, 1967 Padre Pio told to his niece Pia Forgione Pennelli: ." In two years I wont be here any longer, because I will be dead."

1968

From a letter sent by Padre Pio on September 12, 1968 to the Pope Paul VI:

"I offer to you my prayers and my daily suffering, so that the Lord comfort you with his grace,

to continue defending the eternal truth that never changes with the times change.

I thank you for the clear words in the "Humanae Vitae" (The encyclical letter 'Of human life)

and confirm my faiths and my unconditional obedience."

The last Mass of Padre Pio

Padre Pio celebrating his last Mass on September 22, 1968. The wounds have disappeared.

Padre Pio celebrating his last Mass on September 22, 1968. There are no wounds on the hands.

On September 22, 1968 Padre Pio celebrated his last Mass. The wounds have disappeared.

The wounds had disappeared on September 20, 1968 on the fiftieth anniversary of they appearance."

After last Mass, looking at the crowds in church:  "oh my children! Dear my children."

On September 23, at 2:30 AM Padre Pio, holding the Rosary, whispered: "Jesus Mary, Jesus Mary." And than he died.

It is finished. Jo.19,30

"My true mission will begin after my death."

"When I am in heaven I will be able to do much more".

"I will be able to do much more for you when I am in Heaven than I can now while I am on earth."

Posters on the walls in San Giovanni Rotondo notify the citizen that 'Padre Pio is dead'

People  lined up  to see Padre Pio one last time

Padre Pio's funeral through the streets of San Giovanni Rotondo

Padre Pio is the supreme mystical experience of Christ as never happened before, and that couldn’t be more intense, profound and complete.

Padre Pio is the greatest person that ever lived, after Jesus and Mary.

Close Encounters of the Special Kind with PADRE PIO: hallways, backyard; around the world, ecstasies; Purgatory, Guardian Angel, devil; Americans; confessional, baptisms, first Communions, weddings;  Virgin Mary, Rosary; Wounds; Mass; himself, God, Jesus, Cross, Christmas, Church; spiritual children, meditation, prayer, Prayer Groups; child, novice, priest, soldier, fevers; first inquisition, Saint Mary of the Graces, Home for the Relief of Suffering (Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza); the most famous picture, children, blessings, at the ballots downtown, eating; second inquisition, last ten years, death; the Capuchin friars; entombed in first resting place, blessed, saint, exhumed, displayed, final resting place in golden crypt; mosaics of the life of Padre Pio, Jesus, Saint Francis of Assisi; fists class relics with certificates; original painting, original icon.