Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Italian saint to be exhumed

|
|
 
  
Published: Jan. 8, 2008 at 1:52 AM

SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, Italy, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Roman Catholic leaders plan to exhume and display the body of San Pio, revered for his perpetually bleeding hands and miracles, over objections from his family.

Archbishop Domenico Umberto D'Ambrosio has said the body of the saint, affectionately called Padre Pio by devotees, will be removed from his tomb this year and displayed for pilgrims to see and venerate, ANSA reported Monday. But several relatives, including San Pio's niece, Pia Forgione and her eight children, are readying a court challenge, the Italian news agency said.

The archbishop, family attorney Francesco Traversi said, "will not succeed in his attempt to re-crucify Padre Pio by putting his remains on display."

But D'Ambrosio said he is convinced the church has a "duty to allow future generations the chance to venerate the mortal remains of St. Pio of Pietrelcina."

San Pio, who was born in 1887 and died in 1968, was credited with more than a thousand miraculous cures and other miracles. Believers said he bore the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ on his hands, feet and side for at least 50 years.

The exhumation is expected in April but a date is yet to be announced.

Topics: Jesus Christ
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The making of the Oscars Cheerleaders of 2012 The Chicago Auto Show
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China The Most Desirable Women of 2012 The best kisses
Additional Odd News Stories
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
1 of 25
Meryl Streep and Colin Firth attend the "BAFTA" ceremony in London
View Caption
fark
Twins in yearlong quarantine. No, they don't want any Doublemint gum
The Marines are apparently doing things we think only happen in Rambo movies
Remember back in the day when you had to walk to school, barefoot, uphill both ways, in the snow?...
Time to load up on beer, milk, bread and beer, north Atlanta is in for massive blizzard with up...
Bill would force teachers to comply with FCC regulations. in related news, Miss Lipshiatz is about...
When you yell "bingo," you better be damn sure you have bingo. Cause if you don't, we will find...