A procession honoring Saint Padre Pio took place on Sunday, June 23, through the streets of Boston’s North End. The procession began at St. Leonard’s Church where devotees hoisted the statue of St. Padre Pio onto their shoulders and proceeded to carry the Saint around the neighborhood.

St. Padre Pio was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002. Pius of Pietrelcina (1887-1968) was a Capuchin Catholic priest from Italy, born as Francesco Forgione and given the name Pius (Italian: Pio) when he joined the Capuchins, thus known popularly as Padre Pio. He became famous for bearing the stigmata.