Pope Appoints New Commission to Revitalize Padre Pio’s ‘House for the Relief of Suffering’
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has signed a formal papal chirograph (similar to a decree) establishing a new steering commission to restructure and revitalize the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (House for the Relief of Suffering). Located in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, the major healthcare facility was originally founded by Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. According to reports the facility has well over $200 million in debts.
The newly formed Commission for Direction and Oversight is tasked with auditing the foundation’s current operations and implementing strategies to ensure its long-term financial and operational sustainability.
Key Leadership Appointments:
Chair: Maximino Caballero Ledo (Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy)
Coordinator: Fabio Gasperini (Secretary of APSA)
Board Members: Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti, and Archbishop Giorgio Ferretti.
Technical Committee: Dr. Benjamín Estévez de Cominges, Dr. Gino Gumirato, and Attorney Alessandro Ela Oyana.
According to the papal decree, the decision stems from the Church's responsibility to adapt its charitable institutions to modern economic, technological, and legal challenges. The commission will hold full administrative authority across economic, patrimonial, and operational fronts, reporting directly to the Pope on major structural and statutory changes.
Ultimately, the Vatican views this restructuring not as a departure from Padre Pio’s original vision, but as an act of fidelity to ensure the hospital can continue providing holistic care to the sick and the faithful for generations to come.
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Vatican Steps In to Future-Proof Padre Pio's Famous Hospital
Pope Leo XIV has launched a major intervention to safeguard the future of the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (House for the Relief of Suffering), the renowned Italian hospital founded by Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.
Via a newly signed chirograph, the Pope has created a high-level Commission for Direction and Oversight to address the modern economic, legal, and technological challenges facing the healthcare center. Led by Maximino Caballero Ledo (Secretariat for the Economy) and Fabio Gasperini (APSA), the commission has been granted full administrative power to overhaul the foundation's finances and operations.
The Goal: To modernize the institution’s management while strictly preserving Padre Pio’s original mission of providing world-class, compassionate care to patients and pilgrims.
The commission will report directly to the Pope before finalizing any major structural or asset-related changes.
Source - https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-05/pope-leo-xiv-commission-house-relief-suffering-padre-pio.html
Image https://www.humandevelopment.va/en/news/2025/mensaje-del-papa-para-la-jornada-mundial-del-enfermo-2026.html
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