Pio was beatified in 2002, and it was he who founded the Sanctuary adjacent to the ancient Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. St. PADRE PIO. (May 25, 1887 – September 23, 1968), was a friar, priest, stigmatist, and mystic,[1] now venerated as a saint of the Catholic Church.Born Francesco Forgione, he was given the name of Pius (Italian: Pio) when he joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. Padre Pio, also known as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Italian: Pio da Pietrelcina), (25 May 1887 – 23 September 1968), was an Italian friar, priest, stigmatist and mystic, now venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. The construction of Our Lady of Grace Church and the Convent of San Giovanni Rotondo began in 1538 thanks to the work of the people of San Giovanni Rotondo (FG) with the approval of the Bishop of Siponto who was Cardinal Giovanni Maria of Monte San Savino (Pope Julius III). Its surface area is 6,000 square meters. The Sanctuary. Born Francesco Forgione, he was given the name of Pius (Italian: Pio) when he joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. Work began in 1540 and was completed on 5 July 1676. The tomb of st Padre Pio lies in the Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina is located in San Giovanni Rotondo, Province of Foggia, Italy. THE OLD CHURCH. San Giovanni Rotondo is now famous all over the world as the native city of St. Pio (meaning Pius, and known in Italian as Padre Pio) of Pietrelcina, and as the city where the venerated monk worked his miracles. Padre Pio, also known as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Italian: Pio da Pietrelcina), O.F.M. The Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (sometimes referred as Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church) is a Catholic shrine in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, owned by the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin of the Province of Foggia. Cap. Built in devotions to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, it can accommodate 6,500 people seated at worship, with standing room for 30,000 … An extraordinary place of worship, visited by millions of pilgrims each year, the Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina at San Giovanni Rotondo is Italy's second largest church, covering a surface area of approximately 6,000 m² (64,583 ft²).