New book claims Padre Pio faked his stigmata
Claims that Padre Pio's stigmata were self-inflicted with carbolic acid have resurfaced in a new book by Italian historian Sergio Luzzatto.
- International
- November 24, 2011
For 50 years, Italy's favourite saint Padre Pio stoically bore the stigmata - the bleeding marks corresponding to the wounds inflicted on the suffering crucified Christ.
Pilgrims flocked to the monastery in the south of Itay where Pio once lived in a simple cell, and his reputation seemed assured when he was canonised in 2002 by John Paul II, the most popular pope of all time.
But in a new book an Italian historian suggests the saint was nothing more than a fraud.
Professor Sergio Luzzatto claims the 'stigmata' were not a miracle but were self-inflicted wounds using carbolic acid.
He said he has found documents in libraries at the Vatican which apparently included a letter from an Italian pharmacist who claimed to have delivered the acid to the former monk.
Full Story: Italy's favourite saint Padre Pio 'used carbolic acid to self-inflict stigmata' claims historian
Source: Daily Mail
Pilgrims flocked to the monastery in the south of Itay where Pio once lived in a simple cell, and his reputation seemed assured when he was canonised in 2002 by John Paul II, the most popular pope of all time.
But in a new book an Italian historian suggests the saint was nothing more than a fraud.
Professor Sergio Luzzatto claims the 'stigmata' were not a miracle but were self-inflicted wounds using carbolic acid.
He said he has found documents in libraries at the Vatican which apparently included a letter from an Italian pharmacist who claimed to have delivered the acid to the former monk.
Full Story: Italy's favourite saint Padre Pio 'used carbolic acid to self-inflict stigmata' claims historian
Source: Daily Mail
