Padre Pio’s heart relic on display at Manila Cathedral

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from their personal intentions, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo yesterday asked devotees of Saint Padre Pio to include the country in their prayers.

Pabillo, who led the concelebrated mass welcoming the incorrupt heart relic of the saint at the Manila Cathedral, appealed to devotees to pray for the country, which he said is going through hard times.

“We should not only approach Padre Pio for our personal intentions. Let us include in our prayers to him our country because it is also wounded,” Pabillo, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on the Laity, said. 

He asked the faithful, who would venerate on the heart of the saint, to pray for the country’s leaders. 

“Let us come to him not just as an individual but as a Filipino. We should show our concern for our country by praying for its renewal… Let us pray for our country to be holy and become the light in this part of the world in Asia,” Pabillo said.

He said people are drawn to Pio not because of the saint’s good looks, but because of his holiness.

“This shows that holiness is attractive. Holiness attracts,” he said.

The arrival of Pio’s relic was part of the observance of his approaching 50th death anniversary and 100 years of being a Stigmatist.

This is the first time that the relic was brought to the country. It arrived on Oct. 5 for a 21-day stay and will be brought to different parts of the Philippines.

This will be the longest stay of a saint’s relic in a particular country.

Related video: