Padre Pio Exhumed after 40 Years ROME, March 3, 2008 (Reuters) - The body of the mystic monk Padre Pio, one of the Roman Catholic world's most revered saints who died 40 years ago, has been exhumed to be prepared for display to his many devotees. The body of the Capuchin friar, who was said to have had the stigmata -- the wounds of Christ's crucifixion -- on his hands and feet -- is to be conserved and put in a part-glass coffin for at least several months from April 24. Read entire Reuters article Tags: Padre Pio, Incorruptibles

Vatican Accused of Tampering with Pio's Body ROME, MARCH 4, 2008 (Telegraph UK) The Vatican has been accused of "tampering with the dead" after the body of Italy's favourite saint was exhumed from its tomb. Padre Pio, who exhibited stigmata on his hands and feet throughout his life, died in 1968 and was laid to rest in the Santa Maria delle Grazie church in Puglia. The Vatican said the charismatic monk's corpse was taken from the church crypt on Sunday to conserve it "for generations of future worshippers" as it was under threat from humidity. However, the Pro Padre Pio Association has accused the Vatican of digging up the saint's body in order to put it in a larger church that could more easily handle its annual seven million visitors. It said putting the corpse on show and moving it to the new church would "offend the sentiments of many believers". A court appeal will begin on Thursday. After a series of holy readings, eight monks lifted the casket, made from three layers of metal, wood and zinc, out of the crypt just before midnight. "Right from the start we could see his beard," said Domenico D'Ambrosio, the archbishop of Manfredonia. "You could see his knees very well, his hands, his fingernails. If Padre Pio will allow me, I would say it was like he had been manicured." He added, however, that it was not possible to see Padre Pio's stigmata, which were said to have disappeared just before he died without leaving any scars.

The Vatican turns away followers of the 'new Padre Pio' ROME September 24th, 2007 (Telegraph UK) -- To his thousands of followers in Italy and around the world he is the new Padre Pio. Like the country's ever-popular 20th Century saint, who displayed stigmata for the last 50 years of his life, Brother Elia is revered. With his face, hands and feet appearing covered in blood each Easter, he has earned celebrity status and his fans range from the country's poorest to World Cup-winning footballer Francesco Totti. Click here to read entire article