Andrea and Veronica Bocelli receive philanthropy award

Andrea Bocelli Foundation vice chair Veronica Bocelli (left) and tenor Andrea Bocelli receive Adelia Award from Alan Guarino and Luciano Lamonarca of the St. Pio Foundation.

FORTE DEI MARMI, Italy – Andrea and Veronica Bocelli were presented the Saint Pio Foundation Adelia Award during a gala Aug. 1 hosted at the Bocelli home.

“Andrea and Veronica Bocelli are presented this award for their extensive work through the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and many activities supporting the most vulnerable in our society. Undoubtedly, they are an inspiration for all of us,” said Luciano Lamonarca, CEO of the St. Pio Foundation.

With more than 500 people present at the gala, the couple shared how important and inspiring Padre Pio is in their lives and how his life has often been an inspiring model for the work of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation. www.andreabocellifoundation.org.

The world-famous tenor recounted how, on the night before his father passed away, he was in the Sanctuary of Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, located on the Gargano Promontory in Italy. He was praying at the saint’s tomb for the soul of his father.

He related that from that day, his devotion to St. Pio has been a constant presence in his daily life.

The St. Pio Foundation presents this award each year to couples or individuals who exemplify providing relief from suffering to those in need.

The Adelia award is named after Adelia Maria McAlpin Pyle, who was one of Padre Pio’s closest friends. Adelia, known as “Mary,” converted to Catholicism and used her wealth to build a new church, monastery and seminary in Pietrelcina, Italy.

Other award recipients have included: Joe Mantegna (2015); Gary Sinise (2016); actors and singers Franc D’Ambrosio and Robert Davi (2017 and 2019); Grammy award singer Jose Feliciano (2021); Hon. Jim Nicholson, former Secretary of the Veterans Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See (2016); former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, two-time candidate for the Republican presidential nomination and CNN Commentator (2017).

St. Pio Foundation is a nonprofit, U.S.-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization that promotes knowledge and devotion to St. Pio of Pietrelcina. Known as Padre Pio, he is one of the most venerated contemporary saints of the Roman Catholic Church.

For more information, visit: www.saintpiofoundation.org