ROME -- The body of Padre Pio, known formally as St. Pius of Pietrelcina, was on display in Rome for a week with hundreds of thousands making the pilgrimage to worship the holy saint’s remains.  On Thursday his body was taken from the Eternal City to return to his original hometown of Pietrelcina.

 This move was predicted by the Saint, who often received visions, a month before his death in September 1968.  Another of his famous predictions was at the confession of a young Polish priest, who would go on to become none other than Pope John Paul II.  Padre Pio was reported to have told the young man, “You will become pope, but I also see blood and violence on you.”

 Over 500,000 worshippers have participated in the events to honour both Padre Pio and San Leopoldo, whose body arrived in Rome at the same time as Pio’s, over the past week.  These celebrations have been carried out in several locations; in the basilicas of San Lorenzo fuori le mura, San Savatore in Lauro and Saint Peter’s, where Pope Francis blessed the body last week-end

 The evaluative broadcast from Rome’s police headquarters underlines the fact that, “From the moment the saints’ relics arrived in Rome, the police force have guaranteed the safety to the, never interrupted, queues of people who, with great patience and collaboration, have respected the controls and measures put in place for access to the areas of worship.

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