Padre Pio, Exposed! (to carbolic acid?)
According to a new book- The Other Christ: Padre Pio and 19th Century Italy, by historian Sergio Luzzatto- the “most popular Saint” in Italy, and one of the most popular in the world, might have faked his famous piety. (reference: The Telegraph- UK)
Padre Pio. (The man was bleeding as he served the Host!)
Throughout his life as a priest, beginning in 1911, Padre Pio exhibited stigmata, simulations of the wounds suffered by Jesus on his hands and feet. He died in 1968 and was elevated to the status Saint in 2002 by Pope John Paul II, who is now on his own fast track to Beatification.
Some stigmata are visible- wounds on the hands, feet, back, or rib area that can be seen and cause real suffering in those who manifest them, however they are manifested. Others have invisible stigmata; they suffer for no outward and visible reason(My reaction to the invisible kind: How convenient..!)
Visible Stigmata Invisible Stigmata
It seems that documents have been discovered that were collected from a pharmacist acquaintance of the visibly stigmatisized Padre. Maria Di Vito, an admitted admirer of Pio, claimed that in 1919 she spent a month with him in San Giovanni Rotondo, where he asked her to secretly have a bottle of pure carbolic acid refilled. “For disinfecting syringes,” don’t you know.
This evidence, the caliber of which has thwarted less popular nominees on the road to Sainthood, was apparently dismissed by the Holy See (We saw nothing..), since the very popular Pio’s election was successful.
Pietro Siffi, the president of the Catholic Anti-Defamation League, said: “We would like to remind Mr Luzzatto that according to Catholic doctrine, canonisation carries with it papal infallibility. We would like to suggest to Mr Luzzatto that he dedicates his energies to studying religion properly.” Thus, doctrinally speaking, “if a Pope says it, I believe it, and that’s that!” Proper religious study, apparently for Signor Siffi, means the unquestioning regurgitation of what already is- supposedly- known.
My argument here is not with Padre Pio- I know nothing about him, other than the fact that his stigmata, along with those of every other stigmati, appear in the wrong place, since Roman nails were almost certainly driven through the wrists, not the hands themselves. My argument is with the blind obedience to religious thought, which always emanates through some human with a political agenda in the guise of holiness. And humans, as most of us can attest from personal experience, screw up. Our human screw-ups, our motivations,even our outright, however well-intended lies should be able to be studied when they have historical import.
And my argument certainly is not with Catholicism, at least not in the sense that Siffi would be accusing author Luzzato of. My argument is with anyone who uses trickery to fool the masses in the perpetuation of THEIR take on Jesus, THEIR “truths” about God, and THEIR authority. If Padre Pio was shown to be a fake on the order of the very non-Catholic Peter Popoff, so be it! Why should any believer have their faith in God threatened by the exposed fakery of someone who skillfully and manipulatively uses God-language for their own ends? Take a look below at Popoff exposed by the Amazing Randi.
Siffi’s argument is the type of argument (or non-argument) engaged in (or not engaged in) by the new (unbelievable!) followers of Popoff, all the adherents of the fraud Benny Hinn, and those who believe Pat Robertson has special ‘words of knowledge’ just for them. It is the kind of specious argument which causes a multi-million dollar waste of money called The Creation Museum to be built in Kentucky, in the perpetuation of human doctrine over God’s truths. It is the kind of argument that causes factions to dig in their heels, even pick up weapons, in the defense of what some pope/preacher/imam or other ‘holy’ personage says is just so.
Anyone who must look at a man, in order to see God, is looking the wrong way. And I see no threat to God at all in telling them that.
Whether Padre Pio was gulling the credulous masses or not (and, really, were there NO competent medical authorities around who could prove or disprove this “miracle?) is hard to say, given the dearth of evidence. The notion, however, that, no matter what we peep behind the parted curtain, someone invoking Papal Infallibility should snap our eyes forward and our shoulders back is one reason why a religious cult of personality is Not a Good Thing.
Because once you accept that everything Benedict or Oral or, for that matter, Mao says is true, then you’re closing your eyes and handing your wallet/intellect/freedom over to some dude or dudette you hope is as holy and upright as you’ve been led to believe.
That said, Papal Infallibility is a pretty effective mallet with which to Whack-A-Naysayer. I mean, who’re you gonna believe, some lone, irreligious shmoe bearing “facts” or the heir to the keys of St. Peter and his irrefutable say-so?
Good piece, good thoughts.
One of the miracles that got Padre Pio canonized, as I recall, was his appearance guiding Allied pilots in a squadron lost in the clouds. The cockpits of several of the airplanes claimed he was just outside their cockpit, guiding them safely onward.
If that was indeed one of the miracles, it would be damnably difficult to fake.
But then, I found this at a page called “Padre Pio and the Stigmata”: “Several days before he died in 1968, all evidence of the wounds disappeared.” Of course, carbolic acid (phenol) probably would leave a scar of some sort.
Apart from the stigmata, Pio was supposed to be a pretty regular guy, not the usual pious sort one would expect to be a saint, or to fake stigmata.
Watch that story.
Here is a quote from the book Padre Pio and America which explains what
the carbolic acid was actually used for in his friary at that time:
“The boys in the Seraphic College could not understand why their
instructor seemed to be hiding his hands under his garments during the
classes that he was teaching. The Father Guardian, Padre Paolino, noticed
that Pio appeared to be covering up red spots on his hands with the
sleeves of his habit. However, he was not too concerned since he and Padre
Pio had recently received burns on their hands from carbolic acid. The
boys had needed injections to fight the Spanish Flu which was raging at
that time. Due to a shortage of doctors, Padres Paolino and Pio
administered the shots, using carbolic acid as a sterilizing agent.”
Peace,
Frank Rega, author of Padre Pio and America p. 55, TAN Books 2005.
[...] to see something I’ve written ,that the main reason people come to this blog is to read about Padre Pio. I wrote about him on October 27 of last year. Yesterday, 154 of the 486 hits on this blog were [...]
Just to clear things up a bit first, I am a wacko religious right-wing nutjob who believes everything the Catholic Church teaches faithfully and blindly. Having said that, I take comfort in knowing I do not blindly follow the sheer hatred of Protestants (and those who branched off Protestants), Muslims, and atheists in attacking Catholicism, who give no evidence for their own beliefs. I also take comfort in knowing I serve God, not just myself.
Now, why on earth would Padre Pio want to fake is own wounds, inflicting severe pain on himself? The reasons not to are great: it would be blasphemy, because he was a Catholic the media coverage was small and biased anyway, and saints are canonized after their deaths.
For the record, the Vatican “Secret Archives” have limited access. It is very unlikely these documents were just “discovered” because the evil Catholic Church has been hiding them from the eyes of the public. Give me a break. What threat does Padre Pio bring to you? With or without this so-called “evidence,” you non-Catholics didn’t believe he was telling the truth, so why try justifying your opinions? Besides, most of the information is very old records dating back to the medieval eras. The delays in releasing things to the public is more or less because there is so much information that needs to be filed. If people didn’t hate the Catholic Church for their own little reasons, no one would mind the Vatican having an archives with restricted access to it.
When all is said and done, please keep your noses out of the business of the Catholic Church. Don’t mock the Pope or his infallibility because it only gets you a chance to throw potshots at Catholicism. The Church has been around for 2,000 years and won’t be swept away by your opinions.
Oh, and as for “Anyone who must look at a man, in order to see God, is looking the wrong way. And I see no threat to God at all in telling them that,” you obviously don’t know Jesus Christ.
Jamie,
You’re not the only one who doesn’t think so!
Blessings..
Adherents to reason and rational thought normally don’t come off as sounding so defensive.
Why take every critical analysis that isn’t pro-catholic as attacking the church? What? the church can’t take it? Maybe not. But do remember the Catholic church doesn’t have the prettiest history–murderous popes (some with wives others with illegitimate children) crusades, the history of the catholic church in the early Americas is not pretty–how about all the (mostly woman) folks burned because they were witches …remember this was the church that threatened to kill Galileo (or was it copernicus) for saying that the Earth was not circled by the sun. Fast forward to modern day and witness the pedophile scandal that has cost the Vatican millions and millions (if not more)—these holy people who care for us were moving abusive priests around where they did more ill to others. Lovely! I was raised as a catholic-baptised and confirmed-I don’t hate the church I just think this reverence which somehow keeps folks from critically examining the church is not helpful.
I’m certainly no expert but it seems like the catholic church could do with some updating…papal infallibility, the church’s stance on birth control, no woman priests, come on!
Also-It would do us good to remember the conditions that caused the reformation. The catholic church–which apparently we are not allowed to criticize–was selling indulgences-free passes to heaven. hmmmm And taxing people and selling positions within the church hierarchy–the Vatican remains today-a very very wealthy organization with vast holdings. Makes you wonder how the humble Jesus would feel.
Maybe the catholic church could update all it’s archaic doctrine that is not based on the teachings of Jesus.- all the secrecy doesn’t help either.
When I look at all the photos of the Popes most recent visit to the US I’m struck by all the pomp–the fancy clothes, the big hat–not the humility by which christians have been taught (Christ’s teachings) to live.
–sainthood always puzzled me. Although growing up I thought all the saint story were cool. I’m sitting here wondering if there is precedent for sainthood in the bible?
And finally, I know the catholic church does much good-my parents, still devout, serve their community through their parish–that’s great…let’s stick to the stuff that brings us together not wedges us apart.
I’m sorry, but every image of Padre Pio’s hands indicate some type of skin condition, something severe, like a harsh case of psoriasis, eczema, or scleroderma (which my friend has, is horribly painful, and looks just like pictures of Padre’s hands). Great man, yes! But, people, wake up! Stop depending on others to manifest God in your life. Realize your divinity within the Christ and cultivate the characteristics of the Christ in your own life. The body, mind, and spirit are powerful yet very subtle - don’t be fooled, enthralled, or transfixed by the devilish powers of the mundane world… I PRAY YOU WAKE UP FROM YOUR DREAM.
[...] The First Morning [...]
IT ISGOOD ,CAN YOU SEND ME MORE
there is no God. This is fake. Wake up people
padre pio é santo, inquestionavel!
ele realmente é o cara
Padre Pio is a holy, most venerable saint. He did not fake is stigmata. The catholic church is neither evil nor inept.
Those of us that work hard and earnestly enough to enter into eternal paradise can ask Padre Pio whether or not he was faking. Until then, I’m going to have faith.
I’m Catholic. In internet discussions, I usually defend Catholicism.
I do not venerate Padre Pio. I’ve read a lot about him, and met those who do venerate him (I am Catholic and know a lot of Catholics) but I’ve never come across any reason to regard Pio as saintly.
Catholics have always regarded Pio with suspicion. It’s not hard to find that out. His own church investigated him, denounced him, and restricted his activities. *Some* in the church supported him, and, in the sense that he was canonized, his supporters won a victory.
but that victory does not erase the many Catholics, allegedly including Pope John XXIII and Pope Benedict XVI, who suspected him.
Jesus is my ultimate role model. Jesus healed the sick and preached good things. He also died for humanity. Since Jesus died for us, no one else has to. If Padre Pio really did have miraculous stigmata, which I sincerely doubt, because God’s aim can’t be that bad — Romans crucified through the wrist, not through the palms — Pio’s stigmata has no religious significance. Jesus died for mankind. Not Padre Pio. Jesus was the son of God. Not Padre Pio.
Jesus said, “Judge a tree by its fruit.” The cult of Mother Teresa has inspired young women to become nuns who serve the poor, and young men and women to volunteer to serve the poor on a short term basis. This is a Christian thing, obedient to Christ’s demands.
What has the cult of Padre Pio produced, other than a lot of money for his hometown, and tacky tourist items?
That is a sincere question, not a sarcastic or rhetorical one. If Pio is truly Christ-like, his cult will have produced Christ-like fruit.
It is possible that Pio mutilated himself out of misguided desire to imitate Christ. It is also possible that he did so to gain power over followers. It is also possible he was mentally ill. During his own lifetime, as part of official church investigations, responsible Catholics advanced these theories.
As stated above, if those of us who doubt Pio are incorrect, the best way to reach us is through rational argument, not through anger, name-calling, claims to infalibility, or sarcasm.
I most appreciate the posts that claim that Pio guided pilots and that Pio used the carbolic acid to sterlize needles. I appreciate that kind of introduction of evidence and respectful discourse. I certainly consider those posts in my understanding of Pio.
If Pio did require the carbolic acid to disinfect syringes, there is no reason why he would have kept that use secret, as the pharmacist alleges.
A previous poster said this:
“One of the miracles that got Padre Pio canonized, as I recall, was his appearance guiding Allied pilots in a squadron lost in the clouds. The cockpits of several of the airplanes claimed he was just outside their cockpit, guiding them safely onward.
If that was indeed one of the miracles, it would be damnably difficult to fake.”
I googled that and found a claim that Padre Pio appeared in the sky, and prevented bombers from bombing his town in Italy.
I did not find the name of the bombers or the pilots, though.
Without verifiable information, such stories are too similar to urban legends.
If Padre Pio really did appear to pilots, let us know the pilots’ names, and hear their testimony first hand, rather than as a “friend of a friend” story.
We have few enough heroic role models in history…it makes no difference to me whether Saint Pio repeatedly scarred himself with carbolic acid to “fake” a closeness to his Lord Jesus…many young men in Manila have literally had themselves nailed to crosses each Good Friday through the years simply to try to get share an experience with their Lord.
Having said that, I don’t believe Padre Pio hurt himself for display purposes, or for any other reason, as there were no scars afterwards, which is kind of miraculous in and of itself regardless of WHAT was causing the images of bleeding holes in his flesh for 50 years.
Even mascara would leave stains, one would think. Just as scrubbing the stains out would leave damage on hands no longer able to heal.
Regardless of the stigmata though, it is what sorts of things the man stood for and against, and, yes, what the faith of millions have witnessed (or, if you are too hard of heart to suffer “witness” then they have “produced”
good through Padre Pio’s faith in God.
And I, am most assuredly NOT a conservative Republican orthodox Catholic. I even voted against the “Catholic” choice in the 2004 election.