The Church of Sant’Anna is the oldest in the town and served as the parish church for centuries. It is located at the top of Il Morgione, the highest point in the historic center of Pietrelcina. The church was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1688 and was rebuilt a few years later thanks to the initiative of Cardinal Vincenzo Maria Orsini, the future Pope Benedict XIII.

Upon entering the church, to the left, in a niche along the central nave, you can see the baptismal font where Padre Pio was baptized on May 26, 1887. In this same church, little Francesco also received his First Communion and Confirmation.

In the niche at the end of the side nave, beneath the bust of Saint Anne, there is a reliquary containing the relics of Saint Pio the Martyr—a tribute that likely inspired the young Francesco Forgione to choose the name Pio when he became a friar.

After becoming a priest, Padre Pio celebrated Mass and administered the sacraments here for six years, and he experienced numerous mystical events in this church, including ecstasies and apparitions.