The Labyrinth – a Baffling Encounter with Padre Pio

Was it bilocation, or did he operate outside of time and space?

In the 1950's Gino Lattila was an extremely popular singer in Italy, who had triumphed at the famous Sanremo Music Festival in 1954 with the song "Tutte le mamme." It was not until 1962 that he made his first trip to San Giovanni Rotondo, in order to attend the wedding of his good friend Luciano Rispoli. Luciano's whole family was very devoted to Padre Pio, and his uncle was even a confidant of the saint. Not only were he and his fiancée privileged to be married at the friary, but the celebrant was to be Padre Pio himself.

As for Gino, he was a skeptic and had little sympathy for the stories about the mysterious phenomena associated with him. In fact, he would often laugh at the tales of bilocation, reading of souls, or aromas of perfume. He had attended Jesuit schools, where he received a religious education that was not open to medieval mysticism. Thus, he was not enthusiastic about visiting San Giovanni, even though he would be using his own car to drive the bridegroom there.

The morning after their arrival in the town, Gino, pushed by curiosity, decided to attend Padre Pio's 5:00 am Mass. He was surprised to find that at that early hour the church was packed with the faithful. He listened to the Mass, which was rather long, and was celebrated intently by Padre Pio. Immediately afterwards Gino entered the sacristy along with some of the wedding party, where it was possible to see the Padre close-up and receive his blessing.

Padre Pio was on a kneeler, making his customary thanksgiving after Mass. He was deeply absorbed in prayer; his elbows were resting on a support, and his face was hidden by his hands. Complete silence reigned in the sacristy. There were about fifteen men present, and one of them held a little child by the hand. A long time seemed to pass, and Gino became a little impatient. He knew that Padre Pio's prayer was important, but what about all the people waiting to meet him? Gino started thinking that God would be more pleased if Padre Pio devoted some time to greeting the people. 

Suddenly, the little child broke free from his father, and with childhood innocence approached the priest. Perhaps he touched his garments, or maybe he was making some noise. Whatever the reason, Padre Pio turned abruptly and said with a loud voice, “Leave me in peace!” Gino was shocked and scandalized. He had heard that Padre Pio could be gruff, but never imagined he would be that way with children. He thought of the Gospel passage where Jesus said to let the little children come to Him. But this priest instead chases them away! Gino was so angry and upset that, without saying anything to his friends, he trooped out of the sacristy. 

For the rest of the day he did nothing but argue about Padre Pio with those of the wedding party. He criticized him for spending so many hours in prayer, while pilgrims were forced to sometimes wait for days and days before seeing him. The relatives of his friend, the groom, who were devotees of the saint, tried to defend him. “The purpose of his mission is the salvation of souls,” calmly explained the uncle who was Padre Pio's confidant. “The Padre knows when it is expedient to receive persons or when to make them wait, while they reflect upon their lives. Nothing that happens with Padre Pio is by chance. If he wishes it, he can even arrange to meet you tomorrow.”

Those last words struck Gino. The thought, “If he wishes it, he can arrange to meet you tomorrow,” constantly turned around in his mind. The words seemed to be menacing, and he was almost fearful. He told himself that he has no desire to meet Padre Pio, and that he has nothing to say to him. But he spent that night in a state of agitation.

The next morning he arose early to prepare for the wedding of his friend Luciano, who had been given a movie camera as a gift. Knowing that Gino was an expert at using one, the groom asked him to film the ceremony. Gino told him he would be very happy to do so. Armed with the camera, Gino drove Luciano from their hotel to the church and parked the car, prepared to film the entire event. As he entered the church, he pondered which was the best place from which to film the entrance of the wedding party. That would be the organ loft at the back of the church.

He looked around for the staircase to reach it. There were two small doors just under the balcony, and he chose to enter the one on the left. Climbing the stairs, he found himself in a corridor, and proceeding further he came to another door. Upon opening it, he was amazed to find himself looking right at Padre Pio! Instantly he recalled that ominous phrase: “If he wishes it, he can arrange to meet you tomorrow.” The friar was seated in an old armchair. In the room he could smell the strong odor of fenic acid. [Phenol, a sweet tarry odor that resembles a hospital smell; in Padre Pio lore, it is the aroma that signifies physical and moral sufferings.]

Gino Latilla 1924 - 2011

As soon as Padre Pio saw him at the doorway, he glared at him sternly. It was not a look of reproach or rebuke, but it was hard and severe, and penetrated even into the marrow of Gino's bones. He was fearful, but at the same time he felt captivated. He was suffering, yet simultaneously he was happy. He does not know how long the friar fixed on him with his gaze, without saying a word. Perhaps it was a second, perhaps an hour. Finally, with a resounding voice, he asked Gino, “Well, what are you doing here?” Gino responded that he was looking for the organ. The Padre exclaimed, “And here is where you come to look for it?” Then in an imperious tone he commanded, “Get out, get out!”.

Gino left the room, closed the door, and rushed away. His face felt all aflame, as if he had been in front of a fire for a long time. He continued on, climbing stairs, going down others, trying to find where the organ was. He began to worry because he was afraid that the spouses-to-be would enter the church before he could film them. At a certain moment he opened another door, and once again, found himself face to face with Padre Pio. “You again?” he said. “But what do you want of me?” However, this time his visage was quite serene, he was almost smiling. Gino excused himself, and withdrew. But this new encounter with Padre Pio had a calming influence. He reflected that if Padre Pio is to celebrate the Mass, and he is still in that room, that means the ceremony has not yet begun. And he resumed his search for the organ.

Since he still could not find it, he descended the stairs in order to go back into the church, but he ended up in another hallway. He opened a door, and for the third time was face to face with Padre Pio. This time he was in the company of a group of children, and was smiling. The children recognized Gino, “It's Gino Latilla the singer on the radio!” The Padre, continuing to smile, said “Oh yes, the Rai, the Rai.” [The Rai is Italy's public broadcaster.] He approached Gino, looking him straight in the eye as in their first encounter in his cell, and this time too under his perplexing stare, the singer experienced indescribable sensations. It seemed like his mind was spinning as if someone were stirring it up. 

Next Padre Pio raised his hand that was covered by the half-gloves, and struck Gino three times on the head. They were not caresses, but blows, decisive blows, almost punches, as if trying to get him to remember who knows what. He experienced a shudder throughout his entire body. Then with great tenderness Padre Pio said, “Go, and don't ever do anything bad and never be afraid of anyone.” With his head clearing, Gino thought of the wedding that he must film, and told the Padre that he had to leave. He walked out, entered another corridor, and finally he found himself in the church.

But no one was there. He looked all around as if lost and he realized that the wedding ceremony must have concluded. It could not be possible. From the time he had begun to look for the organ only five or six minutes had elapsed, while a nuptial Mass has to last at least an hour. Gino felt certain that he had been awake, alert, and in possession of his faculties. Besides, Padre Pio was right here in the friary, he had seen him three times, and there is no way he could have performed the marriage.

Gino walked outside and came upon a relative of his friend Luciano. “But where did you go off to, we were looking everywhere for you,” the man said in rebuke. “Weren't you to meet the spouses in their hotel?” Gino replied in the affirmative and asked where they were. The relative answered that the couple were waiting for him until a short while ago, when they left in someone else's car to attend the reception. “What about the wedding?” Gino asked. “Its been over for some time.” Gino asked who the celebrant was. “Padre Pio,” was the answer.

Thanks to author Renzo Allegri's interviews with Gino Latilla, as reported in his books I Miracoli di Padre Pio, and Padre Pio, Il Santo dei Miracoli.

Update: I have learned from another source, an Italian magazine, that Gino became a devotee of Padre Pio, who appeared to him many years later when he was partially paralyzed by a stroke and despairing of his future and of his life itself.  In this vision he heard Padre Pio tell him he would recover and sing again.  After he did recover, Gino would only sing for charity, to fulfill a vow he made after Padre Pio had spoken to him.  
 

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