Manuela Moreno Shares Story of Padre Pio and a Mysterious Scent
Manuela Moreno, a well-known Italian television personality, has spoken publicly about her personal connection to Padre Pio, a famous Italian friar who is remembered for his religious life and the help he gave to many people.
During an appearance on the dance show Ballando con le Stelle, Moreno explained that she once asked Padre Pio for a special favor, something she called a personal pact between them.
She said that her request was granted, meaning that what she asked for actually happened. Moreno described feeling a mysterious perfume around her, a smell she could not explain in a normal way.
She also mentioned hearing a voice that, in her words, changed her life. Moreno did not give many details about this voice, but she described the experience as very important to her.
The story is connected to San Giovanni Rotondo, the town in southern Italy where Padre Pio lived and worked for much of his life. The town remains a popular place for people with strong religious devotion.
Many Italians consider Padre Pio an important spiritual figure, and stories about him often circulate even many years after his death.
Moreno's comments were shared as part of a wider interview about her life and experiences, touching on themes of faith and personal belief.
Her story has attracted attention because it mixes a well-known public figure with a deeply personal and spiritual experience.
Viewers of the show reacted with interest to her account, as such personal stories are uncommon on a mainstream entertainment program.
No further scientific explanation was given for the perfume or the voice Moreno described.
Vocabulary10 words
- friar
- a religious man who lives a simple life and helps others
- favor
- a special thing someone asks another person to do
- pact
- a special agreement between two people
- granted
- given or allowed, when someone asks for something
- mysterious
- strange and hard to explain
- devotion
- strong love and respect, often for religion
- spiritual
- related to religion or the soul
- public figure
- a person many people know because they appear on TV or in news
- entertainment program
- a TV show made for fun, like a dance show
- belief
- something a person feels is true
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. Ballando con le Stelle 2. Her request was granted 3. False
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Manuela Moreno, a well-known Italian television personality, has spoken about her connection to _____.
Padre Pio was a famous Italian _____ remembered for his religious life.
During an appearance on _____, Moreno explained her request.
She called it a personal _____ between them.
She said her request was _____.
Moreno described feeling a _____ perfume around her.
She also mentioned hearing a _____ that changed her life.
The town of _____ is connected to Padre Pio's life and work.
Many Italians consider Padre Pio an important _____ figure.
Viewers reacted with interest to her _____ story.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Moreno chose to share this personal story on a TV show?
- What do you think about stories involving religious figures and personal experiences like Moreno's?
- Why might San Giovanni Rotondo remain an important place for many people?
- Do you think public figures should share private spiritual experiences publicly? Why or why not?
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.