By Francesco Colacelli
The special “Year for Priests,” announced by Pope Benedict XVI last 16 June in a letter addressed to the clergy calling for a “deeper commitment of all priests to an interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world,” is also significantly connected for us with Padre Pio’s priesthood whose 100
th anniversary will be celebrated this year.
This connection between Saint Pio and the Year for Priests was made already by the Holy Father who on his pastoral visit to San Giovanni Rotondo, just two days after he had announced this special year of reflection, held up Padre Pio as an example to be imitated: “Padre Pio,” he said, “reminds us of the dignity and responsibility of the priestly ministry,” and continued, “the holy Friar of the Gargano was consumed until the end of his life by his longing to care for souls and to convert sinners. How many people changed their way of living thanks to his patient priestly ministry...”
In these months now leading up to Padre Pio’s 100th anniversary to the priesthood the Capuchin Friars have planned and are still organising a number of...
