Padre Pio Archives • Visit Pietrelcina

Piana Romana and Padre Pio

Piana Romana is a wide, flat plain of farming land on the outskirts of Pietrelcina. Padre Pio’s family had a small plot of land there and a small stone farmhouse/store.

When he was an ordained priest living in Pietrelcina, Francesco used to walk there after mass, taking the path through the woods (the Rosary Walk). This was the same route he took as a child both alone and with his family members. Once there he would spend his time praying, sitting under the shade of a large Elm tree. On the afternoon of 7th September, 1910, an event happened which was to take his life in a new direction.

This is an account of that event (Taken from the book ‘Padre Pio The True Story’ by C.Bernard Ruffin)

“On the afternoon of September 7, 1910, Padre Pio appeared at Pannullo’s office and showed him what appeared to be puncture wounds in the middle of his hands. Pati asked him what had happened. Pio told him that he had been praying in the Piana Romana when Jesus and Mary appeared to him and gave him the wounds. Pannullo examined the young man’s hands, then insisted that Pio see a doctor. The first physician he consulted diagnosed the phenomenon as tuberculosis of the skin. Pio then went to Andrea Cardone, whose response to his colleague’s diagnosis was “Humbug!” He observed sores about a half inch in diameter on both the backs and the palms of Pio’s hands. Although the wounds apparently did not bleed, they seemed to extend all the way through the hands. Cardone was positive that they were not of a tubercular origin. Apart from that, he could not explain them. ……
A few days after seeing Cardone, Pio went to Pannullo. “Pati, do me a favor,” he said. “Let’s pray together to ask Jesus to take away this annoyance. I do want to suffer, even to die of suffering, but all in secret.” …..(Pannullo replied) …”You must yield yourself to do His will in all and over all. And remember, since this is for the salvation of souls and for the good of the entire world, you must say to Jesus, ‘Do with me as Thou wilt”.
The two men prayed, and the wounds went away – for a season.”

Perhaps this is why people now go to visit Piana Romana; not just to remember Padre Pio but to share this sacred location.

Elm Tree where Padre Pio received the Stigmata — The Preserved Elm Tree (Olmo) where Jesus and Mary stood and Padre Pio received the Stigmata.

The tree is now preserved in the exact place it once grew and a small chapel has been erected around it to preserve the very spot where heaven touched earth in such a real way. Both Jesus and Mary had actually stood with Padre Pio under that tree. Perhaps this was what he was referring to when he confided:

“In Pietrelcina there was Jesus and everything started there”

As Cardinal Comastri said in his sermon to the people of Pietrelcina, like Jacob exclaimed after the famous vision of the ladder that stretched between earth and heaven, “The Lord is in this place and I did not know it. This is the house of God, this is the gate of Heaven “ (Genesis 28,16-17)

As the years passed and the pilgrim steadily increased, there was a need people to hear mass and go to confession. The large sanctuary of Piana Romana was built to meet this need. It now stands alongside the shrine and can be seen, with its distinctive shell-shaped roof, for many miles around the countryside.

Within this sanctuary, besides the paintings of St. Padre Pio and St. Francis receiving the Stigmata, are two other remarkable works of art.

One is a light-filled crucifix on the wall behind the altar.

This is a most beautiful depiction of God’s light coming through his Son’s sacrifice at the moment of our redemption.

The second is the set of 14 Icons of the Resurrection. These are placed around the walls of the sanctuary in the place you would normally find ‘The Stations of the Cross’ The ‘Stations of the Resurrection’ depict the main events which happened after the Resurrection and reach their climax at the birth of the church – the descent of Holy Spirit on 120 of the followers of Jesus, including the Apostles and the Virgin Mary who were all gathered in the ‘Upper Room’.

We have created a separate page which is dedicated to these icons as they represent a call to hope and conversion in the meditation of these events. Please click on the following link to go to the Stations of the Resurrection page

Outside, a new section is now under construction. This will provide an outdoor ‘Stations of the Cross’ where it will be possible to follow the route of Jesus’ passion amidst the sights and sounds of nature. We will update you on the progress of this project at a later date.

Rosary Walk part 2

Leaving the bridge behind Padre Pio and his family would turn left and knew they were in for a climb up a rocky slope. I must admit, this section, although only about 100 meters long, is a bit of a challenge for the ‘over 60’s’. Still it is not so bad and we have done it many, many times.

When the hill flattens out he would come to the farmhouse belonging to the Frangioso family. Perhaps he stopped and said “Buongiorno” or “Buona sera”. He might even have stopped for a friendly chat or said a quick prayer with them.

Whatever the significance, the last owner of the house who lived in America, left it to the town in her will and it is preserved and looked after by the Commune in Pietrelcina.

Since we are now in the 21st century, we can use an image from Google maps, to show the two routes you can take when you reach the stone farmhouse. You can keep going straight on the rough path or you can take a temporary diversion by entering into the paved area in front of the house. This will take you back to the Rosary Walk in 50 meters by a more manageable route.

Either way, you will soon pass some farmhouses and all the rough ground will be behind you. The shady, closed views of the path will now open up into wide vistas of farmland and vines

You will now be able to travel along well maintained roads and, like Padre Pio before you, you have now reached the plain of Piana Romana

The roads here are well signposted and it is about a 15 minute walk to reach the shrine

You will now be able to travel along well maintained roads and, like Padre Pio before you, you have now reached the plain of Piana Romana

The roads here are well signposted and it is about a 15 minute walk to reach the shrine

You have arrived. This is where it all began.

Deo Gratias

Video made in 2010 from a collection of photos

Where Padre Pio was Born

If you are in Pietrelcina and looking for the actual home where Padre Pio was born. Here are the directions to find it. Using the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Angels as the starting point, continue on through the narrow stone street in front of you and you will arrive at a fork in the road. There are now two choices; steps going down (this will bring you to the Rosary Walk) and steps going up. Choose the steps going up. This brings you to one of the oldest parts of the town called ‘The Castello’ region.

Here you will will find his original neighbourhood and birth place. This is where Padre Pio was born and where he grew up. It is no wonder that most pilgrims visit this area as soon as they arrive in Pietrelcina. Although there is an information center located right next to the house of his birth, it is not always open and you will find that much of the material can be found in shop inside the Parish Church itself.

The original neighbourhood

One thing I need to point out here. Yes, it is true that many of the pilgrims come to Pietrelcina specifically to see the house where Padre Pio was born and frequent tourists do go through the the Castello region for some periods during the day. However, this is still a residential area and when all the visitors have gone, it reverts back to its old self, a genuine old Italian village/town. The best visits we have made here have been in the dead of night or late in the afternoon when no one is around.

Still, anytime is good and well worth a visit. The following is a collection of photos we took during the first few years of being in Pietrelcina. The music is from singing that was recorded in the parish church and from an outdoor service in town.

The Castello Region – Where Padre Pio was Born

St. Padre Pio and Madona del Libera

Growing up in Pietrelcina, St. Padre Pio was of course steeped in the local devotion to Our Lady of Liberty.

However, it seems he also had a very personal devotion to her. One old resident related to us personally that Padre Pio had been seen talking to Our Lady at the foot of the altar. This, of course, is hearsay, but it does reflect the local knowledge that the devotion of the saint to Our Lady was very real. To demonstrate this, they commissioned a bronze statue of him kneeling and looking as though he is gazing up at ‘Madona Della Libera’ above the altar.

The life-size statue of the kneeling saint, is situated half way down the left side of the church, and although it may seem at first that the Madona’s gaze meets that of the saint, if you take a closer look, you will see that he is looking high above her at the beautiful fresco of the Last Supper, high above the altar. Somehow, even in his statuesque form, he demonstrates that love of Mary leads us straight to the Heart of her son, Jesus.