The Padre Pio Shrine in Batangas, Philippines, was formally elevated to an international shrine on September 23, with more than 40 bishops gathering for a Mass marking the new status and calling pilgrims to embrace the spirituality of the Italian Capuchin saint.
In a society where appointments are booked hurriedly, where patients are sorted by algorithms, and where medical, psychological, and spiritual care is becoming increasingly transactional, Padre Pio provides a clear contrast.
