On 13 May 2024, residents of the Colle Pineta hill in Pescara discovered that a statue of Padre Pio had been vandalised and thrown onto the asphalt outside the “Santa Famiglia” parish church, resulting in its destruction. The statue had stood near the church entrance.
This act follows a previous incident in which a statue of the Virgin Mary was stolen from the church’s grotto several years ago. Carabinieri responded to the scene and have launched an investigation. The incident has caused significant distress among parishioners and the local community.