Padre Pio longed to fully realize his vocation as a priest and religious. For this reason he imitated Christ’s love and humility with all his strength. And yet it was Christ Himself who made him a living image of His love, granting him the gift of the stigmata. For fifty years Padre Pio carried the visible wounds of Christ’s passion and death on his body. The stigmata remained untouched throughout this period, were always fresh and bleeding and gave off a wonderful fragrance. At the moment of death they disappeared completely, leaving behind no scars.