A Dutch Life

Italy’s Padre Pio goes on display

His body was exhumed in March on the 40th anniversary of his death. He was canonised by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

More than a million people are expected this year to see his body, which is said to be well-preserved. But there is reportedly no sign of the stigmata.

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The monks who exhumed his body in March said it was in “surprisingly good condition”, despite no special measures having been taken to preserve it when he was buried in 1968.

“We could clearly make out the beard. The top part of the skull is partly skeletal but the chin is perfect and the rest of the body is well preserved. The knees, hands and nails all clearly visible,” said Archbishop Domenico D’Ambrosio, who led the service to exhume the body.

I remember when first getting to Europe and visiting many of the big Cathedrals, in places like Cologne, and being shocked by the many “Relics” in their treasuries. These contained within them everything from Saint Such-and-such’s index finger nail, splinters from Christ’s cross, to whole skulls safely stored inside ornate precious mental boxes.

Ignorant as I am, I simply have to wonder just how these poor souls could possibly rest in peace with body parts spread to the four corners.