Excursions To San Giovanni Rotondo
Which is your first tought when you think to the Gargano? Of course, the genuine tastes of this land, the blue of the sea and the sky, the thousands of shades of green of the countryside but also the great spirituality that has always featured the "Mountain of the Sun", since really ancient times: this is indeed a land of pilgrimages.
Padre Pio, born Francesco Fogrione, has always had (and has still nowadays) a great favor to a lot of persons, even when the Holy Office instilled the doubt about the authenticity of his stigmatas and his miracles, since it forbid him to celebrate the Mass. The role of this monk has been controversial till 1968, when he died, beloved by his followers and opposed by the Church. Only in 2002, the Pope John Paul II declared Pio from Pietrelcina "Saint".
His favor has grown in the years. This is why the Capuchins gave to the well known architect Renzo Piano the order to plan a new Church, that was open in 2004 and that is the main worship place of San Pio.