Thousands of people are expected to flock to Chicago this week to see relics of a famous saint of the Catholic Church.
Relics of St. Pio Pietrelcina, known as Padre Pio, will be on display Monday at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in the city’s Dunning neighborhood and Tuesday at St. Ita Catholic Church in Edgewater.
The events are part of a national tour sponsored by the Saint Pio Foundation to mark the 130th anniversary of his birth and 15th anniversary of his canonization.
Padre Pio is perhaps best known for displaying stigmata, wounds corresponding to those Jesus Christ received during his crucifixion.
During the tour, relics including a lock of his hair, blood from his wounds, a glove used to cover his hands and part of his religious habit will be on display for public veneration.
The exhibit will be at St. Francis Borgia Church, located at 8033 W. Addison St., from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a multilingual mass scheduled for 7 p.m.
The relics will then be on display from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Ita Parish, at 5500 N. Broadway St., with a mass at 7 p.m.
