St Padre Pio

Born Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina, Italy, in 1887, St. Padre Pio became a Capuchin friar and spent most of his life in San Giovanni Rotondo. He bore the wounds of Christ, the stigmata, for 50 years and heard confessions for many hours each day, drawing pilgrims from around the world. He also founded a hospital, the Home for the Relief of Suffering. He died on September 23, 1968, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 16, 2002. His feast day is September 23, and he is a patron of civil defense volunteers.