The Prayer Groups have inherently fit into the Church since their  beginning, as they have always recognized it as their “Natural Mother”, each group asking the local priests to celebrate the Mass during the regular meetings.

Padre Pio made it immediately clear that all Prayer Group activities had to be organized after the local Bishops’ and Priests’ approval has been obtained.

Initially, the intentions of the Prayer Groups were not always understood. Sometimes obstacles were insurmountable but, as time went by, many  Bishops, Prelates and Cardinals became more and more willing to protect and encourage the Prayer Groups and, in many occasions, the Pope himself spoke in their favor.