Like the other biographies of saints, popes, and other key Catholic leaders written by Wyatt North, this is a short read about the life of Saint Padro Pio. Included at the end of the book are several prayers of Pio. Born in Italy, Saint Padro Pio was a child who grew up to be on of Christ’s greatest followers. This was Pio life’s mission from the time he was a child to the day he died. Starting out as a Franciscan monk and friar, Pio was eventually ordained as a priest. Through his ministry, he led large groups of people to salvation through his masses, healing ways, miracles, intercession in prayer, and taking of confessions. During the early years of his ministry, the Vatican sought to control and later suppress him. Still the crowds gathered. Ultimately, the Vatican understood that Pio was a force through which Christ worked and in which the Catholic Church needed.

In addition to ill health that followed Pio for most of his days, Pio was visited by signs associated with stigmata, the bodily marks, pain, and bleeding in locations corresponding to Christ’s crucifixion wounds. Although Pio never sought public acclaim for his wounds, always turning the attention back to Christ, and hiding the wounds and bleeding to the extent possible, people saw Pio for the follower of Christ and sought him out. This was what led the church into investigating whether the stigmata was real or a gimmick. It was real. All charges of against Pio were dismissed by the Vatican. However, the investigation though led to even more publicity and greater crowds and attention for the humble Pio. It was then that efforts to control led to the suppression of Pio’s ministry and the isolation of Pio from the world. Ultimately, the Vatican understood that Pio was a force through which Christ worked and in which the Catholic Church needed.

Pio’s legacy includes the prophecy of Karol Józef Wojtyła as Pope John Paul II, the symbol of Pio as hope during WWI and afterwards during the rebuilding of society, the establishment of worldwide prayer groups, and opening of a hospital.