Hosted by the Padre Pio Foundation of America, the relic tour offered a powerful opportunity for prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal

Pews were full during Mass on Oct. 15, celebrated by Bishop Richard F. Reidy

CROMWELL, CONN. – [Oct. 24, 2025] – The Padre Pio Foundation of America (PPFOA), a nonprofit dedicated to furthering the spiritual and charitable legacy of Padre Pio, recently hosted a historic relic tour that drew thousands of Padre Pio devotees from across the country to venerate Padre Pio’s full-size Capuchin habit — marking the first time it has ever been publicly displayed outside San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. 

Organized in collaboration with the National Centre for Padre Pio, the relic tour began in Barto, Pennsylvania, and concluded at Saint Pius X Catholic Church in Middletown, Connecticut, where more than 7,000 faithful gathered for public veneration on October 15, 16, and 18. The Padre Pio Foundation of America and the National Centre for Padre Pio are the only two organizations in the USA officially recognized by the Capuchin Friars in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.

Visitors entered the church in silence, with music playing in the background, drawn to the front altar where Padre Pio’s habit was displayed. Many paused to kneel in prayer, some holding their rosaries or holy cards, others moved to tears as they stood before the simple brown garment once worn by the stigmatized friar. The atmosphere was one of profound peace and devotion.

After their time before the habit, attendees moved to the side of the altar, where a Capuchin Friar offered individual blessings with one of Padre Pio’s gloves — a deeply personal relic of the saint who bore the wounds of Christ for fifty years. The moment of blessing was quiet, intimate and filled with emotion, as people came to say thank you, to ask for Padre Pio’s intercession, and to renew their faith.

“Prayer was the center of Padre Pio’s life,” said Julie Fitts Ritter, Executive Director of the Padre Pio Foundation of America. “Every Mass, every confession, every moment of his day was an offering to God. To witness people encounter him through these relics was to see prayer itself made visible.”

Padre Pio devotees venerate his habit at Saint Pius X Catholic Church on Oct. 15, 16 & 18

The veneration of relics holds deep meaning in the Catholic tradition. Relics are physical objects associated with a saint and they remind the faithful that holiness is tangible and that the saints continue to intercede for us from Heaven. For many, this was not only a historical milestone but also a moment of personal renewal and grace.

Padre Pio’s message of “Pray, hope, and don’t worry” continues to inspire millions around the world. The relic tour offered a rare opportunity for the faithful to connect physically and spiritually with the saint’s enduring legacy of prayer, compassion, and love for Christ.

For more information about upcoming events, relic tours, or ways to support the Padre Pio Foundation of America, visit PadrePio.com, email padrepio@padrepio.com or call (860) 635-4996.

About the Padre Pio Foundation of America
The Padre Pio Foundation of America (PPFOA), based in Cromwell, Connecticut, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the spiritual and charitable mission of Padre Pio. Since 1977, the Foundation has supported efforts to maintain the places near and dear to his heart, foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and continue his legacy of love and compassion through Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. The PPFOA and its benefactors work to alleviate suffering and care for those in need across the globe.

To learn more about the PPFOA, become a benefactor, or request prayers, visit PadrePio.com, email PadrePio.com or call (860) 635-4996. Connect with the Foundation on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Thanks to benefactor support, this gift to Padre Pio’s hospital will double diagnostic capacity and
expand healthcare access across the region

PPFOA Chairman Andy Becker, board member Steve Fordyce, and Executive Director Julie
Fitts Ritter join hospital staff at La Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza in San Giovanni Rotondo,
Italy, to celebrate the donation of a new PET-CT scanner

CROMWELL, CONN. – April 12, 2025 – The Padre Pio Foundation of America (PPFOA), a nonprofit dedicated to furthering the spiritual and charitable legacy of Padre Pio, has donated a second PET-CT scan machine toLa Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (“The Home for the Relief of Suffering”) in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. This gift, made possible by generous benefactor support, included the purchase and installation of a new state-of-the-art Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scan machine, as well as equipment upgrades to an existing scan machine, doubling the hospital’s diagnostic capabilities.

PPFOA board members, including Chairman Andy Becker, Steve Fordyce, and Executive
Director Julie Fitts Ritter, attended the inauguration ceremony for the new scan machine on April 2, 2025. The hospital marked the occasion with a ribbon cutting, a plaque unveiling, and a blessing by the hospital’s chaplain, Father Vincent. Staff and administration expressed deep appreciation of the gift, presenting the PPFOA with custom Padre Pio drawings and commemorative medals.

"This donation underscores our dedication to providing crucial resources that directly impact the health and well-being of those in need," said Fitts Ritter. "Padre Pio's legacy of alleviating suffering continues through the work of his hospital, La Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, and we are honored to continue supporting their efforts with this essential technology, made possible by the generosity of our benefactors."

Founded by Padre Pio in 1956 with a vision to aid those who suffer – a mission reflected in its name, La Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, meaning "The Home for the Relief of Suffering" – the hospital has since become renowned in Italy and across Europe as a leading medical center and research institution. Continuing Padre Pio’s legacy of care, the addition of an advanced PET-CT scan machine will double the hospital’s capacity for diagnostic imaging, from 3,000 to 6,000 patients annually, and eliminate wait times, providing more individuals with timely, life-saving diagnoses. PET-CT scans are critical in identifying and managing serious conditions such as cancer, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease and more.

“The new PET scan machine allows us to serve more patients with faster, more accurate diagnostics, while reducing radiation exposure,” said Gino Gumirato, general director of Padre Pio’s hospital. “We are deeply grateful to the Padre Pio Foundation of America and its benefactors for this extraordinary gift, which will benefit thousands of individuals each year.” This donation continues PPFOA’s history of support for La Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza. Past contributions include clown therapy for pediatric patients, ultrasound equipment, over 100 adjustable electric beds, a transportation pilot program,air conditioning for the children’s oncology unit. This latest gift reflects the Padre Pio Foundation of America’s dedication to advancing compassionate and comprehensive healthcare in Padre Pio’s name.

About the Padre Pio Foundation of America
The Padre Pio Foundation of America, based in Cromwell, Connecticut, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the spiritual and charitable mission of Padre Pio. Since 1977, the Foundation has supported efforts to maintain the places near and dear to his heart, foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and continue his legacy of love and compassion through Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. The PPFOA and its benefactors work to alleviate suffering and care for those in need across the globe.

To learn more about the Padre Pio Foundation of America, become a benefactor, or request prayers, visit PadrePio.com or call (860) 635-4996. Connect with the Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.