Italy on lock-down as Saint Padre Pio 's corpse transferred to Rome
The stigmatic saint is being given higher security measures than a head of state.
A no-fly zone was declared above the Italian city of Foggia and the nearby town of San Giovanni Rotondo where the Saint 's bodily remains have been on display since 2008, La Repubblica reported.
Pio 's body to Rome will also be given a police escort to Rome and the 500 km route will be lined with police officers, at Pope Francis ' request.
The remains will stay in Rome until February 11th and will be guarded by between 800 – 1000 police officers.
Metal detectors will be employed to screen pilgrims wishing to view the saint, as Rome remains on high alert following repeated Isis threats.
“The vatican is expecting up to 70,000 pilgrims but there could be many more,”
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Celebrations will see more that 1000 priests arrive in the city and the Eternal City 's hotels and restaurants are hoping in will bring in some more pilgrims too after the 2016 Jubilee of Mercy has gotten of to a slow start.
But not everybody is happy with the Vatican 's decision to move the saints remains to Rome – not least the faithful flock at San Giovanni Rotondo where the saint lived and died.
“It 's not right to move him,” explained one parishoner. “If people want to see him why can 't they just come here like they have always done?”
Padre Pio was venerated by Pope John Paul II in 1999 – after years of controversy surrounding the alleged miricles the saint performed and quasi mystical gifts of bio-location and levitation that were attributed to him.
Pio also claimed to suffer from 'stigmata ' a mysterious condition that causes bodily wounds on the hands and feet that correspond to the crucifixion wounds of Christ.
Pio 's stigmata caused controversy for years ' with some observers suggesting that he had inflicted the wounds on himself using carbolic acid. Pio 's alleged miracles and stigmata divided opinion in the church long after he