Holy Face of Manoppello

The day before he died, Padre Pio experienced his final known and recorded instance of bilocation—to the Holy Face in Manoppello. We know this through the written testimony of his friend and contemporary, now Servant of God Padre Domenico da Cese, OFM Cap., who in 1968 was stationed at the Sanctuary of the Holy Face in Manoppello.

Padre Domenico had maintained a deep spiritual friendship with Padre Pio ever since meeting him in 1940, when he visited the friary in San Giovanni Rotondo before serving as a military chaplain in Trieste. Years later, Padre Domenico recounted what happened on the morning of September 22, 1968:

“Early in the morning, after opening the church, I was going to the choir to pray. But Padre Pio was already sitting in my place. Amazed, I asked him, ‘Padre Pio, what are you doing here?’ He replied, ‘I do not have faith in myself any longer—pray for me.’ And we prayed together. Then Padre Pio said, ‘We will meet again in Paradise!’ I replied, ‘May Jesus Christ be praised!’ but Padre Pio had already disappeared.”

At that exact moment, Padre Pio was celebrating what would be his final Mass, about 125 miles away in San Giovanni Rotondo, during the Convocation of the First International Convention of Prayer Groups. He collapsed during the liturgy and was caught by fellow friars before falling to the ground.

Later, eyewitnesses—and even film footage—confirmed that Padre Domenico appeared in Padre Pio’s funeral procession, despite remaining physically at the sanctuary in Manoppello. This became the first-ever filmed instance of bilocation.

Padre Pio’s devotion to the Holy Face of Manoppello was later shared with the Calandra family, who began working with his friars in the early 1970s. At the friars’ suggestion, the Calandras—Harry, Vera, and their six children—visited the Sanctuary of the Holy Face during a day trip, encouraged to explore some of the spiritual treasures nearby. Often, friars such as Padre Alessio or Padre Giuseppe Pio would join them. These experiences left a lasting impression, and the family soon began incorporating the sanctuary into the pilgrimage tours they led to San Giovanni Rotondo.

“May Jesus Christ be praised!”

Years later, just before Harry’s passing in 2018, he and his daughters spoke often about bringing the Holy Face to Barto. Though the idea was never realized at the time, the dream lingered. Recently, his daughters felt a renewed call to revisit that hope. After a conversation with Tamara Klapatch, a longtime friend of the Calandra family and Director, Padre Domenico Da Cese – Volto Santo, the Centre decided to pursue obtaining its own relic of the Holy Veil. Centre Director Nick Gibboni presented the idea to His Excellency Bishop Alfred Schlert of the Diocese

of Allentown. With the bishop’s permission, the Centre then reached out to Padre Antonio Gentili, OFM Cap., Rector of the Basilica in Manoppello, and the vision began to take shape. While it was not possible to bring the major relic itself, it was determined that a permanent enthronement of the Holy Image at the National Centre for Padre Pio in Barto could be granted.

In early July 2025, Bishop Schlert and Nick Gibboni traveled to the Basilica Shrine in Manoppello to venerate and receive the authentic relic image of the Il Volto Santo during a solemn Mass. They returned to Barto with Padre Antonio Gentili for the enthronement Mass at the Centre—a profoundly joyous and historic moment. During his homily, Bishop Schlert reflected:

“Today we stand before a mysterious and fascinating image: the Holy Face of Manoppello. This delicate, transparent veil, lovingly preserved by the Capuchin Friars, presents to us a face that is both suffering and serene—human and divine at the same time. It is the face of the Risen One, the face of Mercy.

In the Gospel, Philip says to Jesus, ‘Show us the Father, and that will be enough for us,’ and Jesus replies, ‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father’ (John 14:8–9). The Holy Face invites us to do exactly that: to contemplate God, who made Himself visible in Christ. This is not a painted face but a living face—one that looks at us. It is the gaze of the One who conquered death and offers us hope.”

Of all the places Padre Pio could have visited in his final hours, it was the Holy Face he chose to behold. We are humbled and grateful to now share this sacred image and devotion with pilgrims at the “Home of Padre Pio” in the United States. May it be a source of comfort, peace, and hope for all who gaze upon it.