Francesco Forgione/Padre Pio

Otherwise known as St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Francesco Forgione is the main character of the book, as he is the subject of the biography. Forgione was born into the large Southern Italian Forgione family in 1887 in Southern Italy. His early family life was full of religion and his parents insisted on bringing up all of their children to be devout Roman Catholics. Forgione displayed an intense interest in religion from an early age and developed a desire to join the Franciscans soon thereafter. Pio's early life as a friar in training or novitiate was characterized by intense struggle and suffering under brutal authorities. Yet Pio was always totally obedient and eventually became ordained, despite long-term illness.

Pio's extraordinary virtue quickly became apparent to all those around him. Many found his eyes mesmerizing, and thought they represented a soul with such deep love and virtue that...