1. Raffaele Rossi viewed the stigmata and spoke with the friar while noting that he was "sincere" and concluding that there was no fraud or deceit on the friar's part.
20 Facts About Raffaele Rossi
1. 2.
Carlo Raffaele Rossi was born in Pisa in 1876 to Francesco Raffaele Rossi and Maria Palmidessi.
3.
Raffaele Rossi felt called in 1891 to enter the religious life despite the opposition of his father who instead enrolled Raffaele Rossi for a philosophical course at the college in Pisa where one of his mentors was Giuseppe Toniolo.
4.
Raffaele Rossi entered the Discalced Carmelites on 3 October 1887 and later made his first vows on 19 December 1899.
5.
Raffaele Rossi was ordained to the priesthood on 21 December 1901 in Pisa after he completed his ecclesial studies at the Carmelite International College and at the Carmelite Scholasticate in Rome.
6.
Raffaele Rossi then taught at Carmelite houses from 1902 until 1920 after having studied at the Pontifical Gregorian for further studies.
7.
Raffaele Rossi served at some stage at the order's house of San Paolino in Florence.
8.
Raffaele Rossi selected Charles Borromeo as his model for his episcopate.
9.
Raffaele Rossi did not wish this task and sent a letter to Cardinal del Val asking to be relieved from such a serious investigation but was required to accept the position in response.
10.
Raffaele Rossi met with Padre Pio to discuss the allegations and reported that the friar seemed "simple and even nice" while being allowed to view the stigmata for himself.
11.
Raffaele Rossi observed Pio's routine and noted his activities while later speaking with the other friars to learn that Pio converted people from Judaism and Protestantism and converted hardened hearts from all across Europe.
12.
Raffaele Rossi's investigation was positive and concluded that Pio was a "practiced practitioner of virtue" and noted that the friar did not practice deceit or fraud while noting that Pio did not inflict the wounds upon himself nor did an external source cause it.
13.
Raffaele Rossi received his red hat and title in the week following his elevation.
14.
Raffaele Rossi was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 1939 papal conclave that selected Pope Pius XII.
15.
Raffaele Rossi attempted to eschew much of the trappings of the cardinalate and attempted to keep the ascetic life of a Discalced Carmelites and was held in high esteem by both his colleagues and the pope himself.
16.
Raffaele Rossi later became the Superior General for the Scalabrini Fathers and became quite close to them in his work with them.
17.
Raffaele Rossi's health began to decline at the start of 1947 and the papal doctor advised total rest.
18.
Raffaele Rossi died in Crespano del Grappa during the night on 17 September 1948 and was buried at the Santa Teresa al Corso d'Italia church.
19.
Raffaele Rossi was discovered dead in his bed with three books at his side: one was the Bible and another was The Imitation of Christ.
20.
Raffaele Rossi had moved to Crespano del Grappa the month prior due to failing health and resided with the Scalabrini Fathers.