"ST." "GIOVANNI ROTONDO 22nd SEPT. 1968" " AFTER MIDNIGHT" "I think we should take him to the Hospital.." "It is not possible." "Tomorrow morning he has to be able to say mass." "Let him rest." "Don't tell anyone what you have seen." "Monsignor, how come you're here?" " I want to see him." " It's not possible." "He's sick." "Then what are those people out there waiting for?" "Those are the Groups of Prayer." " This is a special day to them." " Why?" "He received the stigmata 50 years ago today." "Then, I want to congratulate him too." "You're heartless." "Can't you see the state he's in?" "Why do you want to torment him till the end?" "Who is out there?" "Nobody, Father." "Guagliò, don't tell me lies." "Let him in." "He agreed to see you." "Leave us alone." "Who sent you this time?" "Nobody." "I have come on my own initiative.." "Then I could avoid to answer." "But you will." "You are too sure of your holiness." "I am just a poor monk." "With all the fanatics who follow you and come here to celebrate you?" "There's nothing to celebrate." "I am dying." "Then this is the moment to tell the truth." "But what else do you want to know?" "What you've always kept hidden." "You have persecuted me for fifty years." "That's not enough for you yet?" "Fifty years of Middle Ages, that's what you have given us!" "You have always taken advantage of people's credulity." "You encouraged fanaticism superstition..." "And you?" "The Saint!" "The Healer!" "The Church doesn't need people like you." "I am the one who needs the Church." "I don't want to die so..." "repudiated." "Then tell me the truth." "Who are you..." "Francesco Forgione known as Padre Pio from Pietralcina?" "Tell me who you are." "I don't know." "I am a mystery also to myself." "What do you want from me?" "I don't understand you." "Why don't you speak to me?" "Tell me something." "What are you doing?" "I am scared." "Help me." "When I need you you're never there." "I am scared." "I often felt like I was being tested and left alone." "But when I was in front of him, I knew that nothing could hurt me." "He was my log." "And I've never my faith, not even when I was in desperation." "Very touching." "But I have not come here to hear about the disturbances of a child!" "You're wrong." "Because everything started from there." "It was then that I understood that if I begged him with all my heart, He would listen to me." "Saint Pellegrino, you are such a miraculous saint." "Grant God's grace unto this poor child of mine." "Saint Pellegrino, grant me God's grace because my child is not well." "Would you?" "Grant me God's grace." "Saint Pellegrino, you don't want to help me?" "Then I'll leave him here." "Good, Saint Pellegrino, that's what you had to do." "Woman:" "It's a miracle!" "Saint Pellegrino performed a miracle!" "France', what did you do?" "Let's go." "Monsignor:" "What are you telling me?" "My life." "And you want me to believe that you had strange powers as a child?" "I have never had any power." "I have always been a spectator of the miracles of the Master." "Hey, kiddo." "What's wrong?" "Are you afraid of me?" "You are the first to be afraid of me." " Where's your mother?" " In the country, but she'll be back soon." " What's your name?" " Francesco." "What's yours?" "I am Brother Camillo." "Who are those?" "The one pierced through by the arrows is St. Sebastiano." " And this..." "Saint'Antonio from Padua." " I don't know them." "You don't?" "Wait." "Do you know those?" "Sure." "Those are Jesus and the Holy Virgin." "I always see them." "You see Jesus and the Holy Virgin?" "And what do they tell you?" "Many things." "Why, don't you see them?" "I have never had this fortune." "I don't believe it." "You said that because you are humble." "Beh, as you are a friend of theirs.." "...next time ask them if I can see them too!" "Don't worry I'll tell them." "I'll send them to you." "Lord, bless this food." "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen." "I want to become a friar like Brother Camillo." "France', did you know that to become a friar you have to study much?" "And to study you need a lot of money." "If France' wants to become a friar we'll find the money." "How?" "If you could sell the cow..." "No." "Not the cow." "What kind of father are you?" "You care for beasts more than for your child." "If the Lord wants my child to become a friar, I'll find a way to make him study." "But the cow no." "The cow... no!" "Dad, don't leave." "It is my fault if you're going away." "Paisa', go, go..." "Dad, dad!" "Don't leave!" "Dad, don't leave!" "Peace and good." "Kiddo!" "You have finally arrived." "May the Lord free you of the old man and his actions." "Amen." "May the Lord make a new man of you, on his own image.." "...in justice and in the Holiness of the Truth." "Amen." "Set, oh Lord, the hood of Salvation on his head.." "...to escape Satan's traps." "Amen." "May the Lord encircle you, with the cincture of Purity.." "...and may He extinguish Lust from your loins so that only the Virtue of Continence and Chastity remains in you." "Amen." "Accept it in the name of Christ as sign of your immortality.." "...because once you're dead for the world you can live in God." "Die and Christ will illuminate you." "Amen." "To make your goodbye to the world total from now on you'll be known as:" " Brother Pio from Pietralcina." " Amen." "Giuvanne', is that you?" "Giuvanne'." "The light went off that time and many others." "The Lord wanted to shake me and beat me." "Who tells you that it wasn't Satan who wanted you to become what you are?" "That's true, the Devil is deceitful." "and I have always been scared." "So scared!" "That cannot be!" "He got two thermometers to burst!" "Let's see if this one for horses bursts too!" " Well, doctor?" " He's got a bad bronchopneumonia." " Is it serious?" " Unfortunately it is." "He has 113° of fever!" " I have never seen such a thing!" " What should we do, doctor?" "He has a house." "Let's send him to his house." "What is it, Pio?" "I don't want to leave." "I don't want..." "I don't want to die before becoming a priest." "France'." "Mom." "What happened?" "I was given a leave and a period of rest." " Why, don't you feel well?" " No, no, I am well now." "Father Agostino, my confessor." " Peace and good." " Good morning." "Piuccio, did you make a fool of us all?" "You can tell me." "It's the air of my hometown." "It's the air of my hometown." " May Jesus be praised, France'." " Always." "Peppino, don't call me "France'" but Padre Pio..." "As you wish, France'." " What do you want?" " Our fields are full of lice." " And what should I do?" " You could bless them." "Send them away." "If you don't, we'll be ruined." " Peppi', I don't perform miracles." " But you know someone who's above!" "Don't you?" "Do it for our creatures." "What shall we give them to eat?" "Alright, let's go." "Mater purissima, miserere nobis." "Mater divinae gratiae miserere nobis." "Mater purissima, miserere nobis." "You have to pray with me.." "And in a loud voice too!" "Otherwise the lice won't listen!" "Let's start again." " Mater divinae gratiae..." " Miserere nobis." " Mater purissima..." " Miserere nobis." " Mater divinae gratiae..." " Miserere nobis." " Mater purissima..." " Miserere nobis." " Mater castissima..." " Miserere nobis." "France'." "France'." "They're dying!" "They're all dying, France'!" "Holy Virgin!" "You are He's a Devil." " What have I done?" " You have cursed the Holy Virgin!" "Do you it again and I'll whack you!" "Understood?" "Let's pray." " Mater divinae gratiae..." " Miserere nobis." " Mater purissima..." " Miserere nobis." "Let's hurry up, Father." "If my husband knows I am here, he'll kill us all." "Don't worry." "Amen." "No, no, I have to start again, I forgot the blessing." " Everyone:" "Amen." " Amen." "What's wrong?" "What happened?" " He can't breathe!" " How is it?" " My God!" " How come he cannot breathe?" "He can't breathe, my son!" "Can't breathe." "My son!" "No!" "Oh, God!" " Zi' Tore!" "Zi' Tore!" " What is it?" " I have killed him." " Whom have you killed?" "Pasquale's son." "I choked him with salt." "Oh, Holy Virgin!" "Pio, next time that you make such a joke you can no longer thank God because I'll kill you!" "May Jesus Christ be praised." "May Jesus Christ be praised." "My Jesus, what kind of priest am I?" "Tell me." "What kind of priest am I?" "I am not ready yet." "I am not ready for what you want yet." "What have you done?" "My God." "Go." "Go away." "But these are the signs of the Lord!" "No it is too much for me." "I am ashamed!" "I am ashamed." "But why me?" "Why me?" "I want to die in pain, but hidden from all." " Let's pray, my child." " No..." "Let's pray." "They're disappearing." "How do you feel?" "Better." "May God be praised." "Francesco." "Francesco." "Francesco." "Francesco." "Francesco." "Jesus would like you more if you renounced being a priest." "Time is precious." "Don't waste it." "Francesco!" "Time is precious." "Don't waste it." "Time is precious." "Don't waste it." " If you still want to be a priest..." " Go away!" "know that your life will be like hell." "Go away!" "Ah!" "Jesus and Mary!" "France'!" "France'!" "Francesco." "France'." "How do you feel?" "It's nothing, mother." "Don't worry." "Fetch me a glass of water." "Piuccio." "I am here because I have news." "I should have written, but..." " ..." "I preferred to come in person." " What kind of news?" "A good one and a bad one." " Which one do you want to hear first?" " From the good one." "You made it." "The dispensation has arrived." "You can confess." "Thanks, Agosti'." "Don't thank me, because now come the bad news." "You must leave with me." "Why?" "There has been a meeting at the provincial curia of Foggia." "They forced Father Benedict and..." "Either you leave at once or they'll ask for your secularization." "You won't be a priest anymore." "But I cannot move from here." "Your health is good now, why don't you want to get back?" "I am not the one who doesn't want." "Do you realize what you say?" "Temptations are terrible, Agostino." "Everything is sin, Agosti'." "Everything is sin." "Piuccio, I've always defended you, but I cannot do it anymore." "Remember that you made a vow of obedience." "Let's move, get on the cart." "Father Agosti'!" "If you came to take our saint away.." "...you can leave." "Who told them?" "I think that my Guardian Angel decided not to be idle today." "How dare you be disrespectful to Father Agostino?" " Apologize." " We apologize, but you won't leave." "Alright, alright." "I won't take away anybody." "Piuccio, I won't come here anymore." "I love you, but I don't want to take a beating for you!" "Agosti' peace and good." "Go." "What to you want to do in your life?" "When I am old I want to steal a rifle." "Why not a cannon-gun then!" "I want a rifle." "I have to shoot the Germans." "I'll kill everybody:" "Austrians, Germans..." "Who taught you that nonsense?" "Nobody." "There is the war and I want to make it." "Did you come to catechism or to talk nonsense?" "We want to go to war too." "You too?" "Sign of the Cross." "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son..." "Sign of the Cross!" "Eternal Father, we offer you the blood, the passion and the death of Jesus Christ..." "Will you also get a rifle?" "Go home." "Come on, you aren't ready yet?" "Come with me." "Come with me." "He doesn't want to undress himself." "Forgione, will you strip or do I have to force you?" "I feel me naked without this." "We need you to be naked, otherwise how can we visit you?" "What's that, another habit?" "I bet he also has two pairs of underpants!" "I was afraid afraid of the war." "I was not a good Christian." "I still wasn't ready to face death." "We need to send him back home at once." "He'll infect the whole department with his lungs." "Home... if he can reach it." "Forgione." "You're going home, are you happy?" "What's happening?" "What's happening?" "Excuse me." "Excuse me..." "This boy could stop it sometimes!" "Whom have you brought here?" "Since Padre Pio has arrived, no one can sleep anymore!" "If you are scared, return to your cell." "Come on!" "All of you, please." "Piuccio!" "Piuccio, answer." "I am Agostino." "Piuccio!" "Piuccio, how do you feel?" "Shattered." "And tonight?" "What did he want?" "There was a woman." "She was dying and he told me..." ""Save her, show me what you can do!"" "I don't know who that woman was, however..." " I know her name:" "Raffaellina Cerasi." " But I know her!" "I confessed her so many times!" "Then, Agostino take me to her." "Immediately." "Alright, Piuccio." "Raffaellina!" "Padre Pio!" "I knew it!" "Tonight you were close to me you prayed for me and I was saved." "Calm down now." "Do you want me to save you?" "I don't want to be saved." " I want to go to the people I loved." " No, no." "You have to be saved for those who love you." "No!" "Don't insist Father." "Allow me to die." "You'll see what I can do from Heaven." "Now bless me, Father." "Bless me!" "The rest doesn't matter!" "Ego te absolvo." "God!" "God!" "You who are the God of the life..." "Jesus, my Jesus, you who told me:" ""Anything that you ask in my name I will grant to you".." "I pray you with strength let her live!" "Let her live!" "Leave it be, Pio." "She's dead." " I had to save her." " Set your mind at rest." "Raffaellina was very sick and however ready to die." "But I am not ready." "Jesus!" "God!" "God!" "You who made Lazarus raise from the dead, let her live!" "Let her live, Jesus!" "Stop it!" "Don't try God!" "Learn the holy humbleness of those who suffer and then die." "You have to think about this." "Your battlefield." "I am conceited, I am proud... but why... but why does he always win?" "Have you seen?" "Have you seen?" "Have you seen?" "You obey someone who claims to have defeated death but I'm the master of death!" "Leave!" "Go away!" " You tried to challenge me!" " You are a failure!" " But you haven't succeeded!" " Him and you." " Two failures!" " You are a failure, him and you!" " Two failures." " Stop..." " ...wanting to be a priest." " Go away!" "You can't do it!" "Away!" "Go away!" "Father, what happened?" "I cannot breathe." "I know a place where you would be better." "It is a small convent on a hill not far of here." "If Father Agostino agrees, I'll take you there." "Air is good there." " What's this place's name?" " St. Giovanni Rotondo." "I can't make it anymore." "Where's this blessed place?" "We are almost there." "We've been walking all day." "Here it is!" "Did you get stunned?" "Father!" "I'll never leave from here." "I'll never go away" "One hundred liras for Padre Pio!" "One hundred liras!" "One hundred liras, Padre Pio!" "Original Padre Pio!" "Heard how much I am worth?" "One hundred liras." "And I was lucky." "Jesus was sold, while people buy me." "Why didn't you move from here?" "You were offered other places to stay." "I had made a promise." "Or did you want to make a feud of this place?" "With the people prepared to buy the pieces of your holiness?" "If you had seen the poverty that I have seen when I arrived here!" " Padre Pio!" " Peace and good." " Come in." " Hey, come here." "Look what I have brought you." "We know that you are too good." "But how can we repay you?" "We are poor..." "To you." "but you also have to think about your sister... and what will you eat?" "You don't want the Providence do her job?" "She cares for us monks." "Be good, okay?" "Otherwise... do you see this?" "God bless you." "Take care." "Pio!" "Pio!" "Pio!" " What happened, Superior?" " Have a look!" "What?" "What?" "Someone stole the jewels of the Holy Virgin!" "No." "Oh, mamma mia!" "I wonder who could do such a thing." " Was it you?" " No." " Not this time." " At last." "Then who did it according to you?" "What can I know?" "Some poor guy!" "He probably asked the Madonna:" ""What do you need these jewels for?"" ""Give them to me!"" ""so I can buy the bread for my children." And the Madonna gave them to him." "According to you, that's how it went." "If I know the Madonna, yes." "Go, go, go, go!" "However no one can scream on the major altar!" " You better leave!" " All this fuss for a bracelet!" " There was also the necklace!" " It was false!" "Leave!" "We have to be patient." "Lord you know how much I love you." "You see all." "I would like to take the suffering of the others on me, as you have done." "but you knew how to do it, while I don't." "Jesus you you see the suffering, the poverty..." "I cannot bear this misery all by myself." "Tell me what I have to do." "Tell me." "Pio!" "Pio." "What happened?" "Pio!" "Nicola, would you go to prepare a cup of broth for Pio?" "Come, Pio." "Lean on me." "Lay on the bed." "Come." "Be calm, come." "Come, come." "Now we are alone." "What happened?" "Can you tell me?" "I don't know, Paolino." "I can't explain it." "I heard voices and the pain of Jesus on the Calvary." "Paolino..." "Paolino, he was there." "He was there." "I felt that he he was dying for me!" "What is it, Pio?" "Pio!" "The lance... that lance struck me here." "Pio, these are the signs of the Lord." "Yes..." "You're bleeding, Pio." "I have to call a doctor." " No, no." " But do you want to bleed to death?" "No!" "No, Paolino." "Don't call anybody." "The Lord will rescue me." "We only have to pray." "Everybody knows now." "They ask me, they want to know..." "But I promised him not to say anything." "It can't be kept hidden." "You must convince him to have himself checked up." "Do they bleed often?" "All the time." "The more I cover them the more they bleed." "Do you feel any pain?" "Day and night." "but it is not the pain Shame is the worst punishment." "Well, Doctor?" "Here." "It's all here." "Please." ""...therefore it can be excluded that the aetiology of the lesions of Padre Pio.." "...has a natural origin." "The cause has to be sought without fear of erring in the supernatural." "and the fact per se constitutes a phenomenon which cannot be explained  in the light of human science"." "The newspapers start to speak of this saint from St. Giovanni Rotondo.." "...who performs miracles." "Should we support fanaticism?" "I went to St. Giovanni Rotondo and I can assure you that Padre Pio is a honest and humble monk." "He's the first to be sorry for what's happening to him!" "But you said more than that." "You said that the signs in his hands are of supernatural nature." "Yes, Father Gemelli." "Not only me, but also professor Romanelli said that." "What you said cannot be proved scientifically." "The Church is changing, it has to confront itself with science." "Let's remember that the Church is an institution, but it's also prophecy charisma!" "Of which charisma are you speaking?" "In hospital, I have cured many women who claim ...to have seen the Virgin Mary." "And there are many people who claim to have the stigmata." "We create the need for saints." "Then let's strip the altars, let's abolish the calendars, let's stop with the litanies!" "With this positivism, what will remain of the Church?" "I have already given order that from now on nobody can see.." "...the stigmata of Padre Pio without permission of the Saint Office." "We have to be careful and severe." "And if you authorize me, Holiness, I will examine Padre Pio myself." "Here is Father Gemelli." "Why did you come here?" "to see the phenomenon?" "I am sorry, but today the circus is closed." "I'm here for order of the Pope!" "No..." "You are here because you think you know everything." "What you do you want to see, when you have already condemned and judged me?" "Go your own way" "and leave me alone." "Leave me alone." "I have a copy of the report that Father Gemelli wrote for the Pope." ""Sick mind"..." ""...psychopath"..." ""...self-injuring"." "He treated me like a criminal in front of the Pope." "Don't despair, Piuccio." "We know how things went, no?" "It is not their fault it's the Devil who confuses the lives of the wise." "Pray." "but don't pray in sadness." "Don't annoy the Lord." "Ours is the God of joy." "Understood?" "Pray Pray smiling, alright?" "Pray and smile." "Now leave." "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." "Good-bye." "Father..." "This is my daughter Cleonice." "My mother says that I have to thank you.." "...because thanks to your prayers I have had the diploma of teacher." "Your mother says that?" "You don't have to thank me, but her." "She sacrificed herself so you could study." "Take out the letter." "The nomination to go to teach to Benevento." "You won't go there." "You will stay here." "What are you saying?" "It is my job!" "You are a conceited and arrogant girl." "You will stay here." "Thanks." "Leave her alone!" "Don't rape her!" "She's an innocent creature!" "She's an innocent creature!" "Cleonice!" "I was waiting for you." "The girl who took my place in Benevento has been raped and now she is in the hospital." "God will help her and she'll recover." "You saved me." "But how could you know it?" "Sometimes, God makes me read his notebook." "What about me?" "You will watch over my wounds." "and Heaven help those who dare hurt you." "Filomena!" "How are you?" "Can I do something for you?" "I came for reporting a serious fact, very serious." "Really?" "What is it?" "It has to do with Padre Pio." "Padre Pio!" "Lately I've only heard of Padre Pio." "What did he do this time?" "He has a lover." "A lover?" "What's her name?" "She's a girl." "Her name's Cleonice, Cleonice Morcaldi." "A girl..." "And how is this girl, huh?" "Filomena?" "How is she?" "Is she as beautiful as you?" "Filomena..." "Well." "We can leave." "What's with this mess?" "We know they want to transfer you." "Who told you that nonsense?" "They say that you don't have anything supernatural." "Sure." "I made those wounds myself, right?" "It is from the Curia of Manfredonia." "It says that the bishop filed a complaint against you." "What a waste!" "All this paper to burn me on the stake!" "Alright after all, what can they do to me?" "I've already been crucified." "Yes, but..." "Christ wasn't accused of having a lover neither of having orgies in the convent." "The bishop of Manfredonia is an unworthy priest, a skunk." "He steals the money from the Curia..." "He's also a whoremonger." "Who are you?" "Who are you to speak that way of a bishop of the Church?" "!" "Who are you?" "!" "You are a libertine, a gambler!" "An inveterate sinner, who are you?" "!" "Learn humbleness." "Humbleness first of all." "And thank God that I have these hands otherwise I'd slap you!" "Go away!" "Satan can't be sent away with Satan!" "Away!" "Go away!" "Leave!" "What's happening to me?" "What does he want from my life?" "!" "What does that monk want from me?" "!" "What do you want from me priest?" "What do you want?" "!" "Away from my life!" "Away." "Who knows you?" "Go away!" "Go away!" "Go away!" "So, filthy man?" "It's been a long night, right?" "And now what do you want from me?" "Confess me." "You want me to confess you?" "You don't need it, come on!" "You have already told me your sins last night." "Remember?" "Help me, Father." "I want to change, I want to find that peace I've sought for a long time!" "And you want it from me?" "I haven't had an hour of peace since I was born." "You are acquitted!" "Come here." " ... take me near the bed." " Yes." "See?" "You become like a child." "But you are too skilled to be a child." "You told me so many stories.." "...but you hid the only thing I want to know." "Where are your stigmata?" "They're no longer there." " I have unmasked you." "You were cheating." " You're wrong." "It's Him who set me free." "Then why do you keep them hidden?" "Go to your people and admit that you're nothing but a cheat!" "Confess that you were only pretending!" "I don't understand what he wants from me." "I only know that when He gave them to me.." "he told me that after 50 years he would take them back!" "And now the moment has arrived." "It's him..." "It's him who doesn't need me anymore." "Then tell the truth." "Let everyone know." "I will, but now come to say mass with me, please." "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." "Amen." "Father, you did it wrong." "First there's the Consecration." "Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus." "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." "Amen." "Ite, missa est." "Deo gratias." "Father, don't leave me alone." "Don't leave me alone!" "Monsignor, Padre Pio wants to see you." "Leave us alone." "I can't." "I was ordered not to move." "Who gives orders here?" "Huh?" "I can say certain things only to him." "After what I have seen, there's no more need for that." "But I need that." "I want to be confessed." "I want you to confess me!" "So?" "Considering that your demonstrations of holiness are over.." ".. at least tell me why." "Tell me." "You haven't understood?" "I am over." "Therefore tell me the truth, before is too late." "Was Father Gemelli right?" "Father Gemelli... said that I was a hysteric." "He was a great physician." "And I was a poor monk." "This is something I will always pay for." "And it's fair enough:" "the Church must be cautious." "and then it was not Father Gemelli's fault the fault was Satan's." "I know you don't like to speak of this, but You have to believe me!" "He exists!" "and he is cunning." "Very cunning." "Father." "Then you haven't understood yet!" "I am a man and darkness and you are an idiot!" "Go away!" "We'll see if your faith succeeds in consoling you!" "You will lose the person you love the most!" "Mother!" "Mother!" "Mother!" "Mother!" "Piuccio!" "Where are you going with this rain?" "You are still ill." "Alright, but at least cover yourself." "France'." "How do you feel, mother?" "I'm going to rest." "Don't leave me, mother." "What will I do without you?" "Don't cry, France'." "He's been there for three days." "He doesn't eat, he doesn't sleep." "Perhaps if I speak to him..." "It's useless." "He doesn't even say mass anymore." "Dad, there's nothing else we can do here." "You can go home." "And you?" "What will you do, kiddo?" "I'll wait, dad." "I'll wait." "(In Latin) This is my body." "Even when there is the body of Christ you check your watches!" "I was told that, but I didn't want to believe it." "Three hours, three hours to celebrate the mass." "You have to conform to the common way used by all the priests." "Thirty, thirty-five minutes will do." "During the mass there's the Passion of the Christ.." "Do you want to set a clock on the Calvary?" "These are the orders." "Starting today, for decree of the Saint Office... .. you're forbidden to celebrate the mass in front of the believers." "The women can't to stay for the meditation anymore.." ".. and the door of the seclusion has to be locked up." "Moreover, you're forbidden to confess both men and women." "What should I do then?" "That's the only thing I can do." "Who will take care of the souls of those people?" "You, Father Paolino, are exonerated from your task.." ".. and moved to another convent." "Father Raffaele will be the new superior." "But why are you angry with him?" "Punish me, he's innocent!" "Father Raffaele, I'm sure you'll conform to my dispositions." "Careful." "I caused you trouble, didn't I Paolino?" "Don't say that Pio." "On the contrary when I'm "on the other side" I will say:" ""I have a holy friend"." " What saint!" " Yes and they'll let me in!" "You're talking nonsense." "Piuccio..." "I beg you, when you are in Heaven remember me." "Agreed." "Leave now, or you'll make me cry as well." "Paolino." "P. Pio:" "Dear and always beloved daughters it is a suffering for me to see you out there in the wind and the cold." "Your love moves me and I love you, I love you all." "Pray, always pray and don't disperse." "I will always be your shepherd." "Dear and revered Father..." "You ask me why I always walk around the convent." "I do it to feel closer to you." "If my father was in jail, I'd spend the whole day.." "walking around the jail." ""Father I looked through the window that leads to the cells hoping to be able to see you again." "I wonder if to need you is a sin"." "While you are praying in the choir, I am in the attic from where I can see the convent." "I keep you company, praying for you." "P. Pio:" "My dearest daughter your fidelity is of great comfort to me." "I wondered whether to write to you is a sin as well." "I have asked the Lord to give me an answer." "He can no longer do anything." "He's like a prison inmate." "Nobody goes to church anymore." "All the groups of prayer are breaking up." "They destroyed all!" "Tell me the truth." "Are you in love with him?" "Yes!" "But not as you may think." "Do you think that I cannot understand you?" "I love him too." "More than myself." "My life... had no sense, before I met him." "Neither did mine." " But if I cannot see him anymore what will I do?" " Don't worry." "I have taken out the old papers." "In a way or another, they'll have to return him to us." "I have to go now." "Take care of yourself." "Do you know what this is?" "Read." "Read the title." ""Antichrist of the Church of Christ"." "Do you know who has written it?" "Your friend Grumanti." "He's a blackmailer and you have to stop him." "Find the way, but stop him." "Also the Saint Father is worried." "Now that we are signing the agreement with the Italian State, a scandal is the last thing we need." "Write to him." "Do what you want, but stop him." "And this is an order!" "What do you want?" "Good morning, father." " I have to see Padre Pio." " For you there is the absolute prohibition." "But I have to speak to him!" "Don't you see that you ruined him?" " In Rome they believe he's the inspirer of everything." " He isn't." "He isn't guilty of anything." "Wait." "I have to speak to him!" "Father!" "Father!" "Can you hear me?" "I know you can." "I know you're angry with me!" "But I had no choice!" "This way those in Rome will free you!" "I cannot obey you!" "I can't!" "Padre Pio, looks who's here." " Piuccio!" " Agostino!" "It's been long!" "It's been a long time!" "Come, let's have a seat." "I have to speak to you." "Alright." "Come." "Gaetano, do you mind if we continue later?" "Take a seat, Father Raffaele." "Remember when I came to Pietralcina to bring you news.." " .. one good and one bad?" " Of course, I remember." "Let's start from the bad one." "Don't worry I'm used to them." "No, Piuccio." "This time I've only got wonderful news for you." "You are free." "Your imprisonment is over." "Provided that we don't start everything again?" "Okay?" "That doesn't depend on me." "TV:" "June 10th 1940." "The moment for our claims is about to come." "The crowd is close to the Duce as regards his supreme decision." "Duce:" "Fighters... on earth sea and air black shirts of the revolution and of the legions men and women of Italy, of the Empire and of the Kingdom of Albania listen: the declaration of war has already been delivered to the ambassadors of Great Britain and France." "My son saw you!" "He saw a monk who looks exactly like you!" "He saved him from a grenade which burst near him." "Thanks!" "Please, tell her to get up because I cannot stay here all day." "I'm busy." "Padre Pio, what happened to these boys?" " In your pocket there should be another photo." " Which other photo?" "Look in your pocket." "I'm sorry." "None of the three was saved." " Father..." " Don't worry, everything's alright." " What about you, fellow townsman?" " I want you to confess me, father." "Don't worry, your soul recovered." "Soon your body will recover too." "This way you won't go to the front!" "My husband's ship sank." " Don't worry, you'll hear from him soon." " Thanks." " Father!" "Father!" "A miracle!" "A miracle!" " What happened?" "In Foggia a bomb has pierced a five-floor building... .. and reached the cellars without exploding!" "There were so many people praying in front of the photo of Padre Pio!" "Really?" "Better so." "I think I should get a photo of this Padre Pio too!" "Look at the sky." "Look well, Cleonice." "Among the stars there is..." "there is your name." "And who wrote it there?" "The astronomer." "You're kidding me." "It's right here, do you see it?" "Look at it." "I'll show it to you." "But what?" "The hospital." "One cannot always ask for miracles." "We have to build a big hospital." "After the war there will be so many sick people, mutilated..." "Kiddo, Christ is in the sick." "but in the poor sick Christ is twice." "We will remove all those weeds." "We'll cut the mountain and break those rocks." "We'll build a big house which gives relief to the suffering of the people." "And here, remember, the best physicians of the world will come." "Yes, but with which money?" "Don't worry, the Madonna can open the hearts... but also the wallets!" "But those are planes!" "Father, let's go." "Yesterday more than a hundred people died in Benevento." "But we can't be in danger." "There's only two of us." "...smile!" "Put on a nice expression!" "I'll count to three." "One, two and three!" "Come on!" "Have a photo with Padre Pio!" "The photo against adversities, against the hex!" "So?" "What are we going to do?" "Father, I am working." "Are you done with this buffoonery, yes or no?" "Go away!" "Go away!" "Is this a market?" "Is it?" "Here people come to pray!" "They come here pray!" "Go away." "Go home." "A beautiful gesture yours!" "Demonstrative!" "But no one seems to have listened!" "This place has become a business for the monk with the stigmata!" " They don't have anything." " But you knew how to corrupt them!" "And those who exploit the poverty of their brothers.." ".. are guilty in front of themselves and God." "I have only tried to help them." "No." "You played with people's fear." "During the war, it was easy to say:" ""this one will return and that one won't"." "You submitted yourself to probability to build your fame of saint!" "You know you and I met many years ago, you passed near me without even looking." "Man:" "Help me father!" "I beg you!" "Voice of Padre Pio:" "He's calling you, he's calling you." "Man:" "They want to kill me!" "Man: acquit me!" "Man:" "I don't want to die like a damned!" "P. Pio: why don't you acquit him?" "He's just a boy." "P. Pio:" "Please, help him." "Why don't you acquit him?" "P. Pio:" "Don't you see?" "He needs you." "P. Pio:" "Help him." "Help him." "Help him." "Help him." "You are telling me that you were in two places at the same moment?" "You know that in other times you would have been accused of witchcraft?" "and that the only mark of Christians is Jesus Christ?" "I have always had only Christ inside my body." "You mean that you consider yourself another Christ?" "!" "A sort of... "co-redemptor"?" "!" "No." "But isn't it what you want us to believe?" "I..." "I have only taken part in his suffering." "France'." "Dad." "Come." "Come next to the fire." "France'." "I want to leave." "I want to return to Pietralcina." "Then do it." "But I don't have the money for the trip." "Give them to me." "Me?" "Dad, I don't have any money." "What are you saying?" "Money arrives to you from everywhere..." "Papà, that's not my money." "It serves for building the hospital." "Why don't you stay here?" "You are not well here?" "What a child I have..." "I went to America twice so you could study and you won't even give me a little money to return to Pietralcina?" "Dad." "Dad, I don't have any money." "Dad!" "Dad, what is it?" "Dad, what's wrong?" "What's wrong?" "Help!" "Dad, let me confess you." "What are you saying?" "Am I so bad?" "Yes." "Wait, France'." "If you ask him perhaps he'll rescue me?" "I can't, dad." "There is a pact between me and him." "For me I cannot ask anything." "Everything for the others, but nothing for me." "I am scared." "I don't want to die." "France', they'll listen to you in Heaven." "I can't, dad." "Let me confess you." "You are ashamed?" "Then let's do this." "I tell you your sins and you'll only reply:" "..."Lord forgive me"." "Alright?" "Alright." "For that time that you betrayed mother with that American woman..." "But how do you know?" "Dad, just reply: "Lord forgive me"." "Lord forgive me." "For when you sold three sheep without saying anything at home..." "Lord forgive me." "For that time that you were drunk.." ".. and beat Michele because of the boundary of the field..." "Lord forgive me." "For all the times that you sent mother in the fields also when she was pregnant..." "Lord forgive me." "Here, dad for all of your sins I acquit you." "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." "France' hold my hand..." "Has he forgiven me?" "To him I have said that my father has corns in his hands but a tender heart." "I love you, dad." "Me too, France'." "Me too, France'." "Voice:" "Francesco!" "Voice:" "Francesco!" "You trouble yourself so much to save the others and you never succeed in saving those you love." "Why don't you console yourself?" "I have brought you who can make your life sweeter!" "Go away!" " Go away, dirty beast!" " She's down to the wine cellars waiting!" "Go!" "She's ready for you." "How stupid you are!" " If you don't take advantage, somebody else will!" " Away!" "Away!" "Away!" "Cleonice." "See?" "I have brought her here for you." "Take advantage of her!" "Take advantage of her!" " You are a fool!" " Leave her alone." " A fool!" " Leave her alone!" "P. Pio:" "Gentlemen and brothers in Christ the House Relief of the Suffering has finally been completed." "Thanks to all the benefactors from every part of the world." "This is the creature which the Providence, helped by you, has wanted." "Here it is." "...admire it and bless it together with me." "and work together for this mission of relieving the souls and the ill bodies." "As physicians, you have a mission:" "to take care of the sick." "And if you don't bring love to their beds, medicine won't be enough." "And remember another thing hospitals are made for the patients, not for the doctors." "How do they say?" "Better a mouse between two cats that a patient between between two doctors!" "I'll leave, before they make me get sick too!" "Hey!" "How are you?" "Look at me." "Look what I have brought you." "Cleonice." "I made your favourite dessert." "Thanks." "It smells good." "It has to be good!" "Cleonice there's a bad atmosphere..." "You better don't come to the convent for a while." "But I can't make it without you." "You always have Jesus." "And if you allow me, he is more important than me!" "Don't worry." "For you there's always room... in my heart." "What will you do, father?" "Give me this handkerchief, so I can greet you from up there!" "Why should you greet me?" "Where are you going?" "Around." "To do damage!" "You'll see, Cleonice, Padre Pio will cause quite a stir after his death." "You will see!" "But what are you saying?" "You will always be with us." "Agostino!" "Agostino!" "How long I have prayed for being able to see you again!" "Forgive me." " Forgive me." " About what?" "You have been my teacher." "You have taught me all." " I have not defended my child." " No." " I have not defended my child." " It is not true." "They will keep attacking you." "But don't worry." "Piuccio my child forgive me." "Do you want to renew your profession?" "The profession." "I will renew it for you." "Okay?" "I, Father Agostino of St. Mark make a vow and a promise to Almighty God Father and to the blessed Father St. Francesco, that for the rest of my life I will observe the life and the rule of the Grey-Friars living in obedience, without possessing anything and in chastity." "And I Padre Pio from Pietralcina if you observe these things I promise you from God eternal life." "In nomine patris et..." "Padre Pio." "Padre Pio, are you well?" "Soon you run to the hospital!" "Pick up a physician and take him here." "Help her." "Help her." " Help her." " What happened?" "What sign is this?" "It is useless for you to wait for him!" "I have beaten him up!" "I hit him, I have beaten him up!" "I have beaten him up!" "I was right." "The old man won't say mass." "What are you doing, father?" "You should be in bed." "He believes to have defeated me." "He doesn't know that this is the last battle instead." "The last duel with him" "and I cannot lose." "Why is the world evil?" "Listen to me well..." "A mother is embroidering to the loom her child is sitting close to her on a low stool." "The kid looks at the job of his mother but he looks backwards from under." "and says: "Mother, what are you doing?" "This embroidery is so ugly"." "And what does his mother do?" "She lowers the loom... and shows him the good part of the job." "All the colours are in place and all the threads create the harmony of the sketch." "Go away!" "Away!" "Go away!" "Bring her here." "You can still walk?" "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you, Satan..." "Leave her alone." "Leave her alone." "In the name of Jesus Christ..." "I order you, Satan..." "Leave her alone." "Leave her alone." "Have you seen the evil?" "Evil is like..." "like the reverse of that embroidery." "We are sitting on the low stool." "This is my story." "The story of a child of farmers and who'll die poor." "I have made many mistakes and perhaps in the world there is no worse man than me... .. I have been ill-tempered, ignorant and I have given you much trouble, but I think I think I've paid my due." "But I am annoying you." "Please, go on." "You say that I have betrayed the trust of the people, that I have deceived them." "but I had to choose." "Choose between the judgment of the Church and the poverty, the desperation..." "Christ grabbed me and told me: "Go on, go on"." "I don't know all the wishes of the Master." "Maybe I invented them all myself." "But now even if you don't want to..." "Please acquit me." "Don't make me end up like that poor boy." "Which boy?" "That boy... during the war." "No!" "Open up father!" "I beg you!" "Help me!" "They want to kill me!" "Acquit me!" "I don't want to die like a damned!" "You've never forgiven yourself, right?" "Fear is human." "And however I have acquitted you." "Now though... take care of me." "Father what are you saying?" "It's you who have to acquit me." "No, you have done only what you thought was right." "Then as now." "But I've persecuted and judged and condemned you." "The Church has done its duty." "and if you had not persecuted me, I would not have been saved." "God, so much blindness!" ""Often", as Polidiemus said "Christ passes by, he walks with us and we don't recognize him"..." "Who knows... if God and you can ever forgive me?" "We already have." "Now it's you who have to acquit me." "For the power conferred to me by the Church I acquit you from all of your sins." "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." "Amen." "You can leave." "I've taken too much of your time." "Before leaving, however, I want you to know that his Holiness follows you with a lot of affection." "Thanks." "I'm a poor man." "Ask him to say a prayer for me." "No, Father." "It is him who asks you for a prayer." "And I'm asking you for one too." "Pray for me." "How many gifts, how much grace how many miracles you have given me!" "You have come to live and to suffer inside my body." "I inside of you and you inside of me." "What a great mystery." "Thanks, my Father." "It's alright..." "I am ready." "Whenever you want." "I Padre Pio from Pietralcina make a vow and a promise to be faithful for the rest of my life to the rule and the life of the Grey-friars." "(P. Pio:" "Give me that handkerchief so I can greet you from up there.)" "(Cleonice:" "Why should you greet me?" "Where are you going?" ")" "(Padre Pio:" "Around, to do damage.)" "PADRE PIO DIED ON 23rd SEPTEMBER 1968" "ON 2nd MAY 1999 HE WAS BEATIFIED BY POPE JOHN PAUL II" "MORE THAN 7 MILLION BELIEVERS VISIT HIS TOMB IN SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO EVERY YEAR" "# Translated and adapted:" "lyliakar #"