This study is not for the faint of heart or the overly pious, since it includes the suggestion of many scandals involving the cult and even (possibly) some deviltry on the part of Padre Pio himself. At one point two ''miraculous' bodies' dominated Italy's cultural scene: Il Duce's and 'the Saint's'. “We would like to suggest to Mr Luzzatto that he dedicates his energies to studying religion properly.Fascinating anthropological study of the development of the cult surrounding Padre Pio, with most of the focus not on the holy friar himself but on the many cultural currents swirling around him, including and especially the rise of Fascism in pre WWII Italy. Pietro Siffi, the president of the League, said: “We would like to remind Mr Luzzatto that according to Catholic doctrine, canonisation carries with it papal infallibility. The Catholic Anti-Defamation League said Mr Luzzatto was a liar and was “spreading anti-Catholic libels”. The new allegations were greeted with an instant dismissal from his supporters. He exhibited stigmata throughout his life, starting in 1911. A recent survey in Italy showed that more people prayed to him than to Jesus or the Virgin Mary. Padre Pio, whose real name was Francesco Forgione, died in 1968. It was examined by the Holy See during the beatification process of Padre Pio and apparently dismissed. The testimony was originally presented to the Vatican by the Archbishop of Manfredonia, Pasquale Gagliardi, as proof that Padre Pio caused his own stigmata with acid. He also asked for other things, such as Valda pastilles.” “He explained that the acid was for disinfecting syringes for injections. “Padre Pio called me to him in complete secrecy and telling me not to tell his fellow brothers, he gave me personally an empty bottle, and asked if I would act as a chauffeur to transport it back from Foggia to San Giovanni Rotondo with four grams of pure carbolic acid. She claimed to have spent a month with the priest in the southern town of San Giovanni Rotondo, seeing him often. “I was an admirer of Padre Pio and I met him for the first time on 31 July 1919,” wrote Maria De Vito.

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