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After the episcopal consecrations of July 1, 2026, several websites and social networks once again circulated the alleged "prophecy" of Padre Pio announcing to Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre that he would disobey the Pope and cause division in the Church.
Presented as irrefutable testimony, this story is nevertheless devoid of any serious historical basis. Its origin is late, its source is extremely questionable, its sole witness is unknown to Padre Pio specialists, and above all, it is categorically denied by Archbishop Lefebvre himself in a handwritten letter from 1990.
An Authentic Encounter
No one disputes that Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre met Padre Pio; the meeting took place on March 27, 1967, Easter Monday, in San Giovanni Rotondo.
The Superior General of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Archbishop Lefebvre, came to ask the famous Capuchin to pray for the extraordinary general chapter that the Spiritans were preparing to hold in the context of the application of the reforms stemming from the Second Vatican Council. 1 The "aggiornamento" was then required in all religious institutes and the archbishop already feared the serious consequences that these transformations could entail.
This concern did not go unheard by Padre Pio. Shortly before, the Capuchin superior general had also come to ask him to pray for the general chapter of his order, which was tasked with drafting new constitutions.
According to several witnesses, the holy friar reacted sharply, declaring: “This is nothing but talk and ruin!” Later, upon learning that new constitutions were being prepared, he reportedly gave vent to his grief again, exclaiming: “But what are you doing in Rome? What are you plotting? You want to change even the rule of Saint Francis!” 2
The meeting between Archbishop Lefebvre and Padre Pio was, however, extremely simple. The archbishop was accompanied by Father Barbara and Brother Félin, a Spiritan friar, while Padre Pio, supported by two Capuchins, went to the confessional. After briefly explaining the reason for his visit, Archbishop Lefebvre asked the holy friar to pray for the Spiritan chapter.
When he then asked for his blessing, Padre Pio replied with profound humility: "No, Monsignor, it is you who should bless me!"
Archbishop Lefebvre then gave him his episcopal blessing, Padre Pio kissed his ring and continued on his way to the confessional.
A now-famous photograph immortalizes this moment.
While the meeting is beyond doubt, the content of the alleged "prophetic dialogue" rests exclusively on a late testimony, not corroborated by other sources and explicitly contradicted by Bishop Lefebvre himself.
A Story That Emerged Sixteen Years Later
The account of the alleged prophecy only appeared publicly in 1983, sixteen years after the events and fifteen years after Padre Pio's death. It was published in La Domenica del Corriere on April 23, 1983, by Pier Carpi, who claimed to have heard the story from a certain Professor Bruno Rabajotti, presented as a direct witness to the scene.
However, no document dating from 1967 mentions this conversation, no independent witness confirms it, no known associate of Padre Pio refers to it, and above all, it only surfaced after the crisis between Archbishop Lefebvre and Rome was already widely known to the public. This simple observation alone warrants the utmost suspicion.
Unreliable Sources
The very personalities of the authors of this account reinforce these reservations: Pier Carpi was neither a Church historian nor a scholarly biographer of Padre Pio. A prolific writer, he was primarily known for his works on esotericism, occultism, secret societies, theosophy, and alleged prophecies. His name also appears on lists linked to the P2 Masonic lodge, even though he denied ever having actually belonged to this organization.
The alleged witness, Bruno Rabajotti, also raises many questions. Padre Pio specialists find no trace of this mysterious "favorite spiritual son" outside of the books in which he himself recounts his memories, and none of Padre Pio's closest actual spiritual sons seem to have ever heard of him.
A Testimony Riddled with Implausibilities
In 1987, Franco Fede's The Secret of Padre Pio was published in Italy , reproducing in about thirty pages the complete testimony attributed to Bruno Rabajotti. Reading this text reveals numerous assertions irreconcilable with Catholic teaching.
Rabajotti attributes to Padre Pio, in particular, that the gift of tongues is not a supernatural charism exceptionally granted by God, but a capacity accessible to all those who know how to "speak the language of the spirit." He also ascribes to the Capuchin saint remarks suggesting that people could somehow "save themselves" or "heal themselves" through a simple inner balance.
Specialists in the cause of Padre Pio's beatification were not mistaken; this testimony was never included among the official documents of the trial.
Archbishop Lefebvre's Response
Faced with the persistent spread of this story, Archbishop Lefebvre personally responded on August 8, 1990, to a priest of the Society who asked him what to think of this alleged prophecy.
Here is the letter.
"This slander, this complete fabrication, has been circulating in Italy for several years. I have already denied it, but lies die hard. There is not a single word of truth in the page of this magazine of which you sent me a photocopy.
The meeting, which took place after Easter 1967, lasted two minutes. I was accompanied by Father Barbara and Brother Félin, a Spiritan friar. I met Padre Pio in a corridor, as he was going to the confessional, supported by two Capuchin friars.
I explained to him in a few words the purpose of my visit: to ask him to bless the Congregation of the Holy Spirit which was about to hold an extraordinary general chapter, like all religious congregations, under the sign of aggiornamento, a chapter which I feared would cause serious difficulties.
Then Padre Pio exclaimed: “Me, bless an archbishop? No, no! It is you who must bless me!”
And he bowed to receive my blessing. I blessed him. He kissed my episcopal ring and continued on his way to the confessional.
That was the whole encounter, nothing more, nothing less.
Inventing a story like the one you sent me a copy of requires a satanic imagination and a genuine will to lie. Its author is a son of the father of lies.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to set the simple truth straight once again.
With warm regards in Christ and Mary.
✠ Marcel Lefebvre"
The clarity of this denial leaves no room for ambiguity; Bishop Lefebvre describes this account as "slander," "a complete fabrication," and a "lie."
A Legend Perpetuated by Repetition
Despite this explicit denial, the story continued to circulate, it was taken up in several popular works devoted to Padre Pio, particularly in the English-speaking world, where the book Padre Pio Gleanings reproduces the dialogue without any critical analysis.
The canonization of Padre Pio in 2002 gave new visibility to this legend, which has been regularly relayed on the Internet ever since; the consecrations of July 1, 2026 have given it a new resurgence in relevance.
A lie can travel the world in moments. The truth sometimes takes years to establish, but it always prevails in the end for those who sincerely seek it.