Written by rchime on 28 May, 2005
Everybody knows the story of the extraordinary life of St Padre Pio di Pietrelcina. I want to tell you about the new "cathedral" built here by one of the most appreciated Italian Architect Renzo Piano. The goal of this construction was to have one of…Read More
Everybody knows the story of the extraordinary life of St Padre Pio di Pietrelcina. I want to tell you about the new "cathedral" built here by one of the most appreciated Italian Architect Renzo Piano.
The goal of this construction was to have one of the biggest complex for Catholics and non-Catholics in southern Italy and to make it accessible to everyone. Everything starts from the stone you can see in many places in Puglia (like Ostuni). When you arrive here, there is a path to follow, like a sort of pilgrimage. It starts at the base of the big cross, where then you'll see a tree. It's a Sycamore, the tree from which Zaccheo jumped to see Christ.
Then there is a big staircase that makes you feel like climbing to the sky, but when you reach the top, the vision is totally different.
There are three churches in one. The first church is without roof, but with a mobile altar; the second is the superior church with an arch made of stone, an altar, and the famous Golden Cross of Pomodoro; and there is a lower church in which there will be the tomb of St. Padre Pio.
On the right side you still see the old convento where Padre Pio has lived. You can recognize the cell in which Padre Pio lived because there is a cross on the window. Nearby the church without a roo,f there are 12 olive trees of that represent the 12 disciples of Jesus. There is a little "river" of water that flows besides the trees that represents the Giordan River. It flows from a little waterfall, making something like stairs of water. Then the water flows underground and back outside by the baptismal fountain.
In the "square" on the left side, there are eight bells. From the smallest to the biggest, every bell has a name. The first is Giovanni Battista, because we are in San Giovanni Ritondo; the second is Maria; the third is Pio, etc. They all have a name taken from the Saints of Puglia.
There are then some eagles made of stone. They chose the eagle because it is a bird that, in mythology, rises while looking at the sun until he burns his wings, but then after dying, is reborn.
The big window of the second church has a big panel that represents the Apocalypse. The material used is the one that astronauts use in the space. The big cross outside in the square is something that weighs the destiny of the world.
When I visited this place, I was suffering because I nearly broke a foot in African Beach Village, so it was like a pilgrimage for me. But even for non-Catholics or the nonbeliever, this is a place to visit. It gives you peace and strength to go on in your life with a new start. >Close