500,000 come to venerate Padre Pio’s remains in Rome

Over one week, 500,000 faithful assisted at the celebrations around the exposition of Padre Pio’s remains in Rome. In a press release published by Radio Vatican on February 12, 2016, the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization that is in charge of organizing the Holy Year rejoiced at the uninterrupted flow of pilgrims come to venerate the saint’s relics, and at the constant presence of journalists. “Thanks to TV and the radio, sick persons, prisoners and elderly persons were also able to participate in this extraordinary event.” On February 5 in particular, thousands followed the procession to St. Peter’s basilica.

The Holy Father himself went on the afternoon of February 6 to pray with the faithful before the Capuchin’s reliquary. And on February 11, the closing Mass had to be moved to the confession altar because of the extraordinary number of faithful.

On Ash Wednesday, February 10, in presence of these relics in Rome, Pope Francis sent a thousand “Missionaries of Mercy” on their mission to “preach and confess with tenderness” throughout the entire world.

(sources: apic/radiovatican – DICI no.331 dated Feb. 26, 2016)

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