Historian Sergio Luzzatto’s book, The Other Christ: Padre Pio and 19th Century Italy reveals Padre Pio, who was made a saint in 2002, had used carbolic acid to get the Christ-like wounds in his hands. ROME: Padre Pio, Italy’s most loved saint, faked his stigmata by pouring carbolic acid on his hands, according to a new book. The Other Christ: Padre Pio and 19th Century Italy, by the historian Sergio Luzzatto, draws on a document found in the Vatican’s archive. The document reveals the testimony of a pharmacist who said that the young Padre Pio bought four grams of carbolic acid in 1919. “I was an admirer of Padre Pio and I met him for the first time on 31 July 1919”, wrote Maria De Vito. She claimed to have spent a month with the priest in the southern town of San Giovanni Rotondo, seeing him often. “Padre Pio called me to him in complete secrecy and telling me not to tell his fellow brothers, he gave me personally an empty bottle, and asked if I would act as a chauffeur to transport it back from Foggia to San Giovanni Rotondo with four grams of pure carbolic acid”. “He explained that the acid was for disinfecting syringes for injections. He also asked for other things, such as Valda pastilles.” The testimony was originally presented to the Vatican by the Archbishop of Manfredonia, Pasquale Gagliardi, as proof that Padre Pio caused his own stigmata with acid. It was examined by the Holy See during the beatification process of Padre Pio and apparently dismissed. Padre Pio, whose real name was Francesco Forgione, died in 1968. He was made a saint in 2002. A recent survey in Italy showed that more people prayed to him than to Jesus or the Virgin Mary. He exhibited stigmata throughout his life, starting in 1911.

Fake,Fake,Fake....

The stigmata was real... The carbolic acid was used, as requested, to disinfect syringes when Padre Pio & other priests were going to administer some vaccines (polio vaccines I think). Do you honestly believe that one medical purchase of 4 grams of carbolic acid is more proof than a whole lifetime of Padre Pio being scrutinized & living life as a public spectacle?? Naysayers tried to discredit Padre Pio from the beginning of his stigmata, and all they can come up with is one purchase of carbolic acid??? I'm not saying to believe in every alleged apparition ot stigmatist that comes along - I'm all for scrutinizing them and holding them up to the light of Truth. But when an apparition or stigmatist has been investigated thoroughly by the Catholic Church and OFFICIALLY approved - then you can bet it came from God. The Official approval is something that RARELY happens, so when it does, as in the case of Padre Pio, trust it. If you don't believe then I challenge you to do research into the Catholic Churchs' investigation of these claims... See for yourself if its thorough or not... but to dismiss God's work through this Saint based on one purchase of carbolic acid is completely ludacris. Thanks for reading & God Bless. ICM