‘He is among us, get it into your head, he is alive and always here’: saintly presence at the pilgrimage centre of Padre Pio and the importance of ‘being there’

Research reveals that the perception of saintly presence at Padre Pio's pilgrimage center, particularly within the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie, is deeply rooted in the knowledge that Padre Pio lived and was buried there. This spatial connection significantly shapes pilgrims' experiences, emphasizing the importance of 'being there.' The study employs ethnographic fieldwork (2004–2005) to explore how materiality and place contribute to the sense of saintly presence, drawing on Eade and Sallnow's dimensions of person and place in pilgrimage analysis. Findings underscore the psychological and emotional impact of knowing a revered figure is physically connected to a site.

Mesaritou, E. (2015). ‘He is among us, get it into your head, he is alive and always here’: saintly presence at the pilgrimage centre of Padre Pio and the importance of ‘being there’. Culture and Religion, 16(1), 87–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/14755610.2015.1019896