Healing of Matteo Pio Colella

On January 20, 2000, seven-year-old Matteo developed high fever, purple spots, and rapidly deteriorated into septic shock with cardiac arrest requiring resuscitation and mechanical ventilation. Physicians stated he would die within hours and last rites were administered. His mother prayed at Padre Pio's nearby tomb. On January 27, Matteo emerged from the coma; a CT scan showed no brain lesions. He was fully recovered by February 6. During the coma he reported seeing an elderly man in a brown habit whom his mother identified as Padre Pio.

Matteo Pio Colella was born on December 4, 1992, in San Giovanni Rotondo — the town where Padre Pio had lived, and where his tomb now draws pilgrims from around the world. On January 20, 2000, when Matteo was seven years old, he developed a sudden high fever exceeding 104°F, followed by weakness, headache, vomiting, and mental disorientation. Purple spots began to spread across his body — a sign of septicemia. He was rushed to hospital.

His condition deteriorated rapidly. He went into septic shock. His heart stopped and required resuscitation. He was placed on mechanical ventilation and fell into a coma. His organs began to fail. The attending physician told the family that the comatose child would die within hours. Last rites were administered.

His mother, Lucia, left the hospital and walked to the nearby sanctuary of Padre Pio. She knelt at his tomb and prayed.

On January 27 — seven days after the onset of illness — Matteo emerged from the coma. A CT scan performed the same day showed no brain lesions, no neurological damage. He was fully recovered by February 6 and was discharged from hospital without any residual impairment. Doctors who had declared him dying could offer no explanation for what had happened.

During his coma, Matteo later reported, he had seen an elderly man with a white beard dressed in a brown habit who told him he would be well. His mother, when he described the figure, recognized the description immediately as Padre Pio.

The diocesan process opened on June 11, 2000 and concluded on October 17, 2001. On November 22, 2001, the Vatican's Medical Committee unanimously declared the healing quick, complete, lasting, without neurological consequences, and scientifically inexplicable. Pope John Paul II issued the decree in February 2002, and Padre Pio was canonized on June 16, 2002.