Novena and Feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

The feast of the Gargano's most beloved Saint

On September 23rd, San Giovanni Rotondo, a town in the Province of Foggia nestled on the slopes of the Gargano, celebrates its most heartfelt occasion: the Feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, marking the anniversary of the death of the friar with the stigmata in 1968. An immense crowd of the faithful gathers around the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the modern Church of Saint Pio, making this Apulian town one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in Italy after Rome.

Nine days of preparation

The feast is preceded by a Novena that begins on September 14th, guiding pilgrims with daily Eucharistic celebrations, meditations, rosaries, and liturgies held in the churches of the sanctuary complex. Each edition is defined by a specific theme and features the participation of bishops, cardinals, and preachers invited from across the country. During the first few days of the Novena, the traditional Saint Pio book fair is also set up on the sanctuary's forecourt.

The vigil on the night of September 22nd

The most intense and characteristic moment is the prayer vigil held on the night between September 22nd and 23rd. Thousands of the faithful remain in prayer outdoors in the square in front of the church, participating in welcoming liturgies, vespers, Eucharistic adoration, prayer beneath the cross, and the recitation of the Holy Rosary, in an atmosphere of deep reflection that lasts until dawn.

The day of the feast

On September 23rd, the program includes several solemn Eucharistic celebrations, including the main morning Mass presided over by the Archbishop of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo, with the participation of the Capuchin Friars and numerous prelates. Celebrations continue throughout the day and are broadcast live on Padre Pio TV and the Sanctuary's social media channels, reaching devotees unable to attend in person.

A spiritual heritage of Apulia

Devotion to Padre Pio, canonized by John Paul II in 2002, is now an integral part of the identity of San Giovanni Rotondo and all of Apulia. The feast unites popular faith, Franciscan tradition, and the welcoming of pilgrims from every continent in an event that marks the religious calendar of the Gargano alongside the nearby pilgrimage to Monte Sant'Angelo.