St. Padre Pio Warned Abortion Was the "Suicide of the Human Race"

St. Padre Pio was not only a holy man, miracle worker, and mystic, he was also a prophet.

Edward Pentin over at the National Catholic Register recently shared a fascinating story about the saint of Pietrelcina in which he predicted the demographic consequences of widespread abortion that much of the developed world is currently suffering.

“The day that people lose their horror for abortion,” St. Padre Pio said, “will be the most terrible day for humanity. Abortion is not only a homicide but also a suicide.”

When the person he was speaking to expressed confusion at abortion being “suicide,” the saint explained: “The suicide of the human race will be understood by those who will see the earth populated by the elderly and depopulated of children: burnt as a desert.”

Indeed, according to the world bank, St. Padre Pio’s own home country, Italy, now has a fertility rate of 1.4, or about 33% below mere replacement fertility (2.1). The rate is actually currently up from its low of 1.18 in 1995. As a result, the medium age keeps rising. This is true throughout the developed world.

The Catholic Church has always opposed abortion and contraception, supports marriage, and sees large families as “a sign of God’s blessing.” (CCC 2373)

Here’s the full story:

“Today you denied absolution to a woman because she had voluntarily undergone an abortion. Why have you been so rigorous with this poor unfortunate?” (Padre Pio would sometimes refuse to give absolution to a penitent if they showed insufficient contrition; often they would return and he’d give absolution if they were sincere).

Padre Pio responded: “The day that people lose their horror for abortion will be the most terrible day for humanity. Abortion is not only a homicide but also a suicide. Shouldn’t we have the courage to manifest our faith before those who commit two crimes within one act?

“Suicide?,” asked Father Pellegrino.

“The suicide of the human race will be understood by those who will see the earth populated by the elderly and depopulated of children: burnt as a desert,” Padre Pio replied.

Here’s the full story:

St. Padre Pio, please pray for our world!