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The Capuchin Monk "Padre Pio' was born at Pietrelcina (in the province of Benevent, Italy), joined the Capuchin order in 1902 and became a member of the Capuchin community of the monastery San Giovanni Rotondo (Province of Foggia) in 1918. It was in the same year that wounds opened in his hands and feet never to close again. He is the first stigmatized priest in church history. His celebration of the holy mass has been a moving experience for hundreds of thousands of Italians as well as for many others from foreign countries. An enormous number of Catholics has been flocking into his confessional. The overwhelming effort in Padre Pios religious life was directed towards the union with the crucified Christ in order to obtain God's grace and help for his fellow-creatures.Padre Pio said his last holy mass on September 22nd, 1968, two days after the 50th anniversary of his stigmatization. The following night he died.