ITALY: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO TUNE IN AND WATCH A CEREMONY TO DECLARE SAINT PADRE PIO

Record ID: 649296

  • Title: ITALY: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO TUNE IN AND WATCH A CEREMONY TO DECLARE SAINT PADRE PIO
  • Date: 13th June 2002
  • Summary: (W5) SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO (JUNE 14, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV WORKERS BUILDING SCAFFOLDING OUTSIDE PADRE PIO SANCTUARY 0.08 2. SLV/CU BANNER OF PADRE PIO HANGING OUTSIDE SANCTUARY (2 SHOTS) 0.16 3. SV/CU FORMER FRIEND OF PADRE PIO AND FELLOW FRIAR, FRIAR ERMELINO SHOWING PICTURES OF HIMSELF WITH PADRE PIO (2 SHOTS) 0.29 4. MCU (English) FRIAR ERMELINO SAYING: "Padre Pio was a simple priest, also according to the Pope and at the same time Padre Pio was a man of suffering and a man of prayer." 0.42 5. SV FRIAR ERMELINO BLESSING PILGRIMS 0.49 6. TV/CU/SV PILGRIMS PRAYING NEXT TO PADRE PIO'S CRYPT (5 SHOTS) 1.09 7. MCU (English) IRISH PILGRIM VERA OKEANE SAYING: "I hope that the message of this canonisation will spread throughout the world and take peace to all our land. Our country, Ireland, we need peace but the world needs peace." 1.23 (W5) SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO (JUNE 13, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 8. SLV ITALIAN FOOTBALL FANS WAVING FLAG AND SHOUTING VIVA PADRE PIO AS PILGRIMS WALK ALONG CARRYING CROSS 1.36 9. SV LIFE-SIZE STATUES OF PADRE PIO FOR SALE ON STREET (2 SHOTS) 1.50 10. SV/CU PADRE PIO SOUVENIRS FOR SALE (3 SHOTS) 2.04 11. SLV/CU PADRE PIO RADIO STATION BROADCASTING (3 SHOTS) 2.18 (W5) SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO (JUNE 14, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 12. LV NEW CHURCH UNDER CONSTRUCTION 2.30 13. SV STATUES 2.35 14. CU/SV SIGNS INDICATING HOTELS IN TOWN (2 SHOTS) 2.42 15. SLV PILGRIMS GETTING ONTO PADRE PIO TOURIST TRAIN 2.50 16. SV/CU PILGRIMS WAVING FROM TRAIN AND SHOWING OFF PADRE PIO SOUVENIRS THEY HAVE BOUGHT (2 SHOTS) 3.01 17. MCU (English) AMERICAN PILGRIM JULIA SWAIN SAYING: "If it wasn't for Padre we wouldn't be here because we don't like to fly. My husband has only flown once in his whole life and because he (Padre Pio) answered so many of our prayers that's why we came here." 3.14 18. SV/SLV VARIOUS TRAIN DRIVING THROUGH TOWN (4 SHOTS) 3.39 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 28th June 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA5R9MCVP9CFYGL27FUJ1UPW1Y0
  • Story Text: Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to tune in
    and watch a solemn ceremony to declare saint Padre Pio, a 20th
    century mystic monk who bore the wounds of Christ for 50
    years.



    Although the remote town of San Giovanni in Rotondo,
    in southeastern Italy where Padre Pio spent most of his life
    has no beaches, medieval castles or Renaissance masterpieces,
    it still lures 7.5 million visitors a year -- more than twice
    as many as
    Romes Colosseum.

    The town has been at fever pitch all week in anticipation
    of Sunday's (June 16) canonisation of Padre Pio, the 20th
    century Italian mystic monk and miracle worker had stigmata -
    the bleeding wounds of Christ - for 50 years, which doctors
    could not explain.

    Workers are hurriedly constructing seating to enable
    pilgrims from all over the world to watch the ceremony on an
    outdoor screen.

    Despite being investigated and rehabilitated twice by the
    Vatican and cleared of charges of sexual misconduct and fraud,
    the down to earth friar has become a worldwide phenomenon.

    "Padre Pio was a simple priest, also according to the Pope
    and at the same time Padre Pio was a man of suffering and a
    man of prayer," said Friar Ermelino, a former friend of Padre
    Pio.

    Born Francesco Forgione in 1887, Padre Pio has been in
    the fast lane for sainthood since he died in 1968, but the
    path
    to heaven was not easy for the Franciscan Capuchin friar who
    is said to have wrestled with the devil on more than one
    occasion.

    Pilgrims, many of whom have travelled from the other side
    of the world to watch the canonisation, devoutly pray next to
    his shrine.

    "I hope that the message of this canonisation will spread
    throughout the world and take peace to all our land," said
    Irish
    pilgrim Vera OKeane.

    "Our country, Ireland, we need peace but the world needs
    peace," OKeane said.

    Away from the hush of his tomb and back above ground,
    even fans supporting Italy's entry into the next round of the
    World Cup are caught up in the excitement. "Viva Padre Pio"
    they yelled as they drove past pilgrims carrying a large
    cross.

    Dubbed Las Vegas of the faithful and looking something
    like a spiritual Disneyland, San Giovanni Rotondo is awash
    with
    life-size statues of Padre Pio. The life-size statue can be
    snapped up for just 3,500 euros ($3,280).

    Key chains, mugs, t-shirts and sculptures of the
    grey-bearded friar with his serene smile are sold on every
    corner. There is a Padre Pio postage stamp, a Padre Pio
    Television and Radio station, Padre Pio backpacks, Padre Pio
    pens, Padre
    Pio sweat shirts and even Padre Pio balloons.

    A giant church shaped like a sea shell with seating for
    7,500 is being constructed -- 10 times the number that the
    existing church can seat. Locals say there are more hotel
    rooms to house the pilgrims than homes in the village.

    But the highlight to any pilgrims trip to Padre Pio's
    home has to be a ride on the shiny white three-car tram called
    the little pilgrims train.

    "If it wasn't for Padre we wouldn't be here because we
    don't like to fly," said American pilgrim Julia Swain onboard
    the
    train.

    "My husband's only flown once in his whole life and
    because he (Padre Pio) answered so many of our prayers that's
    why we came here," Swain said.




  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register