For several years
now this slander, a fabrication from start to finish, has been
circulating in Italy. I have already refuted it, but lies die hard;
there is not one word of truth in the page of that magazine you
photocopied for me.
The meeting which took
place after Easter in 1967 lasted two minutes. I was accompanied by Fr.
Barbara and a Holy Ghost Brother, Brother Felin. I met Padre Pio in a corridor, on his way
to the confessional, being helped by two Capuchins.
I told him in a few
words the purpose of my visit: for him to bless the
Congregation of the Holy Ghost which was due to hold an
extraordinary General my Chapter meeting, like all religious
societies, under the heading of aggiornamento (up-dating),
meeting which I was afraid would lead to trouble...
Then Padre Pio cried out. "Me, bless an
archbishop, no, no, it is you who should be blessing me!"
And he bowed, to receive the blessing. I blessed him, he kissed my ring and
continued on his way to the confessional...
That was the whole of the meeting, no more,
no less. To invent such an account as you sent me the copy of calls for
a satanic imagination and mendacity. The author is a son of the Father
of Lies
Thank you for giving me the chance to tell
once more the plain truth.
Most cordially yours in Christo et Maria,
+Marcel Lefebvre