The Church of San Pio da Pietrelcina was strongly desired by the Minor Capuchin friars, brothers of Padre Pio, and by his numerous devotees in order to better accommodate the relics of the saint and give dignity to the Eucharistic celebrations, especially those on Sundays with a large influx of faithful .
The architectural idea was conceived by the acclaimed architect Renzo Piano, with the collaboration of Monsignor Crispino Valenziano for the liturgical aspect.
To guide the faithful on their pilgrimage to this sacred place, the Capuchin friars entrusted the priest Father Marco Ivan Rupnik with the creation of an iconographic route. This path encourages the faithful to rediscover the meaning of their baptismal life (the path of the new man) and to follow it towards Christ, taking inspiration from the example of Saint Pio and Saint Francis of Assisi. Subsequently, it introduces the faithful into the Mystery of Christ (The palace of the King of Heaven), splendidly depicted in the lower church through iconographic works.
