LIFESTYLE

Catholic saint's heart goes on display for first time outside Italy

The Associated Press Published Wednesday, September 21, 2016 1:46AM EDT

Heart of Italian saint to be displayed in U.S.

Cardinal Angelo Comastri, right, prays in front of the box containing the corpse of Saint Pio da Pietralcina laid in front of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Feb. 5, 2016. (AP / Alessandra Tarantino)

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LOWELL, Mass. -- The heart of a celebrated Roman Catholic saint is being publicly displayed this week - the first time the religious relic has left Italy.

Hundreds of the faithful are expected to line up Wednesday at the Immaculate Conception Church in Lowell, Massachusetts, for a glimpse of the heart of St. Padre Pio.

Honouring the relics of saints is an ancient practice in the Roman Catholic faith.

St. Padre Pio was a Capuchin friar best known for possessing the Stigmata, or wounds of Jesus Christ. He died in Foggia, Italy, in 1968 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

The heart also will be displayed in Boston later this week as part of the run-up to the saint's feast day on Friday.