On the blog Sacri Palazzi Andrea Tornielli reports that the body of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, "Padre Pio", will exhumed and examined. Here is the story in my translation:
The announcement was made at the end of the Mass of Epiphany, last evening, in the church of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in San Giovanni Rotondo by Archbishop D’Ambrosio of Manfredonia: the body of St. Pio of Pietrelcina will be exhumed for a canonical recognitio (examination) of the remains (never before done) and then will remain exposed for some months for veneration by the faithful. Today in il Giornale I recount the words with which the prelate gave the announcement and also a brief interview with Cardinal Saraiva, Prefect of the Congregation for Causes of Saints, who gave the authorization.
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The last thing St Pio would want is to be put on public display for veneration.
A pilgrimage to visit the Saint’s grave is one thing, but this…
If the Vatican feels that a recognitio is necessary this should be worked in conjunction with the family. However, immediately afterward St Pio should immediately be returned to the earth from whence he came.
I thought this was supposed to be done during the beatification and canonization process? Of course no saint would want this, but Holy Church does it for the benefit of the faithful.
Geoffrey, same here. Its done during the process in part to take relics. Or at least it USED to be done that way.
Isn’t the real reason for this that they want to place him inside that monstrosity of a church they built in San Gionvanni Rotondo?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3036245.ece
I don’t think it’s fair or true to say that no saint wants to be exhumed. Too many miracles have been worked through saints relics for that to be true, and God has been using the remains of holy men to work miracles since Old Testament times. Fully aware of this, why would St. Pio or any saint for that matter wish to deny the faithful the graces that come from the veneration of their holy relics by remaining buried underground forever?
I read in another blog (secretummeummihi)
that the St. Pio’s family is intiating legal actions
to prevent the exhumation of the relics.
I just pray they don’t move his body to the church of Saint Pio … that thing is hideous. Our Lady of Grace where his body is now is beautiful.
Maybe they think the new church can be miraculously redesigned and beautified by the presence of Padre Pio’s body. If so they ought to ship him to LA’s cathedral ASAP first dibs.