page_title: Padre Pio
section_title: Carlo Maccari, Second Apostolic Visitation of 1960
hierarchical_section_title: Padre Pio / Investigations of Padre Pio by medical and church authorities / Carlo Maccari, Second Apostolic Visitation of 1960
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Medaille de Saint Benoît Verso recto Taille originale ⌀=1.5cm
context_page_description: Padre Pio, also known as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, was an Italian friar, priest, stigmatist and mystic, now venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. Born Francesco Forgione, he was given the name of Pius when he joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin.
  Padre Pio became famous for exhibiting stigmata for most of his life, thereby generating much interest and controversy. He was both beatified and canonized by Pope John Paul II.
  The Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina is located in San Giovanni Rotondo, Province of Foggia, Italy.
context_section_description: Father Carlo Maccari was Secretary-General of the Diocese of Rome and met Pio nine times altogether. Pio was very suspicious of Maccari, who wrote in his diary: "Reticence, narrowness of mind, lies - these are the weapons he uses to evade my questions ... Overall impression: pitiful." Maccari demanded Father Pio's omission to practice kisses after the confession for the lay sisters. In his report, Maccari noted that Pio had inadequate religious education. He works a lot for a man of his age. He is not an ascetic and has many connections to the outside world. In general, there is too much mixing of the "sacred" and the "all too human". Maccari noted in his report by name, which woman stated at what time to have been the lover of Pio - without clearly assessing whether all these statements were true. Maccari focused on assessing the fanaticism of Pio's social environment, describing it as "religious conceptions that oscillate between superstition and magic." Maccari called Pio's supporters "a vast and dangerous organization." Pio never had his own supporters advised to moderation. Maccari wondered how God could allow "so much deception."
  Maccari finished his critical report with a list of recommendations for further dealing with Father Pio. The brothers of Santa Maria delle Grazie should gradually be relocated, a new abbot should come from outside the region. No one should be allowed to confess to Pio more than once a month. The hospital was to be given new statutory statutes to sever the responsibilities of the medical and spiritual "healing" capuchins.
  Following Maccari's Apostolic Visitation, John XXIII noted in his diary that he sees Father Pio as a "straw idol" (idolo di stoppa).
caption: The Saint Benedict Medal was a gift Padre Pio often gave as a present to his visitors.[69]
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