New spectacular photos reveal many sides of Padre Pio
New spectacular photos reveal many sides of Padre Pio
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — An organization that encourages reverence for St. Pio of Pietrelcina, commonly referred to as Padre Pio, is making 10 never-before-seen photographs of the saint accessible to the faithful at no cost.
The pictures offer a personal glimpse into the existence, demeanor, and spirituality of the saint from the 20th century, according to the photographer. Certain images depict Padre Pio reverently conducting Mass, while in others, he is grinning amidst his companions.
Rare photographs of Padre Pio
Elia Stelluto, the personal photographer of Padre Pio, stood with pride — camera ready — in front of posters displaying the 10 new images for the photo presentation at the Vatican cinema on April 29.
“It takes just a single glance at one picture of his face” to grasp the essence of Padre Pio, he informed Catholic News Service. “With that, you can comprehend so much; every photograph carries its unique narrative, and by examining them individually, you can discover so much more in his expressions.”
For decades, Stelluto captured images of the saint at the monastery where he resided in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
In the course of the photo presentation, Andrea Tornielli, the editorial director of the Dicastery for Communication, remarked that the newly released images emphasize Padre Pio’s persona as an individual who was intimate with those nearby and radiated happiness. He pointed out that while smiling in photographs was not typical during that era, spontaneous photographs captured by Stelluto portray the saint grinning widely while he was surrounded by a group.
Accessibility for individuals
Luciano Lamonarca, the founder and CEO of the Saint Pio Foundation, which enhances devotion to the Italian saint and facilitated the release of the photographs, mentioned that numerous individuals would visit Stelluto seeking his images for various articles and publications.
“I never witnessed any form of accessibility for the individuals” to view the pictures directly, he remarked. That’s the reason he believed, “Padre Pio is the saint of the people; we need to take action for the people.”
Lamonarca, an Italian residing in the United States, mentioned that since numerous individuals with a devotion to Padre Pio cannot travel to the regions where the saint lived and served, he pondered, “how can one present Padre Pio to them, the genuine Padre Pio, the most authentic version of Padre Pio?”
That’s what motivated him to collaborate with Stelluto to make the photographs accessible to the public, prohibiting their use for commercial reasons, by offering them for free download on the St. Pio Foundation website.
Inspiration amid suffering
Lamonarca expressed his desire that by “observing the picture of a significantly suffering “a father who was capable of laughter,” individuals would ponder, “if he can find joy, then we can find joy as well.”
Stelluto referred to the photographs he captured of Padre Pio as “enigmatic,” as they consistently appeared sharp even in low light settings.
He remembered the difficulty of capturing images in a dim convent, along with Padre Pio’s aversion to the flash of a camera, particularly during the Mass, and the sole reliance on soft candles to illuminate the altar.
“It’s not that I had a knack for this; I still don’t grasp the concept,” Stelluto stated during the photo showcase. “The reality is that he was the beacon.”
