​ Pamfletten to Inspire

​There are many Padre Pio stories that can be recalled from various books written

on the life of Padre Pio. 

The stories that are contained here are from individuals who personally knew Padre Pio

and that both my wife and I have had the great privilege of knowing over the years.

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​   The first individual is Eublio Cardone.  The Cardone's were neighbors of the Forgione's (Padre Pio's sur name) in Pietrelcina, Italy.  The following stories as well as many others were related to me over a long association my wife and I had with him.  Eublio wrote a book called Touched by a Saint  wherin he outlines the influence Padre Pio had on his life.  In our conversations he related the following stories:

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1.   Many who have read books on the life of Padre Pio recall how he once was seen in the air during World War II when some American pilots were ordered to bomb San Giovanni; Eublio knew the pilot and he stated to me that when the pilot saw Padre Pio in the air, he heard a voice saying to him that he was not going to bomb San Giovanni while he was living there.  The pilot (whose name I have forgotten), could not release his hand from the trigger so that they could descend into San Giovanni.  The pilot was instructed to fly toward the ocean wherein the grip of his hand on the trigger suddenly relaxed and the bombs fell harmlessly into the ocean.

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2.   Another story Eublio related to me was about two young servicemen who visited Padre Pio shortly after the end of World War II.  The first individual asked Padre Pio what the future held for him.   Padre Pio told him that he was going to be a priest.  That individual did become a priest.  His name was Fr. Leo Fanning who unfortunately passed away before I had an opportunity to speak to him.

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3.   The other serviceman laughed when speaking to Padre Pio stating that he was a confirmed bachelor and would never get married.  Padre Pio said that he was going to get married and that he would write to him at the appropriate time.  About five years later, this individual met a girl and several days later, received a letter from Padre Pio stating that the girl he had just met was to be his wife.  He did marry her!

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4.   The fourth story is about the Cardone family itself.  When Padre Pio left for San Giovanni for the last time, Eublio's parents were planning their wedding.  Padre Pio's mother (Maria Giuseppa De Nunzio) gave the couple as a wedding gift the pillows and bed that Padre Pio slept on, stating that her son would never again return to Pietrelcina.  When Eublio was seven years old, the Cardone family was planning to immigrate to the United States when Eublio became very sick and the family was not sure whether or not he would survive.  They prayed for Padre Pio's intercession and Eublio made a full recovery.  Before leaving for the States, the Cardone family wanted to thank Padre Pio, so they went to San Giovanni.  When they were close enough, because of the rough terrain, Eublio ran ahead up to the Church of (Our Lady of Grace), where he bumped into an individual who had on a brown robe. The individual said to the boy "your name is Eublio" the boy said "how did you know that, we have never met",  the man in the brown robe said, " I am Padre Pio and your family has been praying for your return to good health!  How are you feeling?"

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   To the best of my knowledge, Eublio Cardone may have been the last living survivor from Pietrlcina who personally knew Padre Pio.  Eublio passed away in December, 2010. To the very end, he always remained faithful to the Church and to his devotion to Padre Pio.  My wife and I will miss hearing the many stories and people Eublio came in contact with who were influenced by Padre Pio.