The founding principles of the Prayer Groups are inspired by the Franciscan spirituality of Padre Pio (Preface of Statutes).

  •  Total and unconditional adherence to the teachings of the Church, guided by the Pope and the Bishops.
  • Prayer with the Church, for the Church and in the Church, an active participation in the Liturgical and Sacramental life of the Church as an intimate union with God.
  • Generosity and self-sacrifice in undertaking works of charity, especially for the suffering and needy, as a concrete demonstration of the member’s love for God.

The Prayer Groups are inspired by Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles laici (Foreword of the Rules):

  • The call of every Christian to holiness. To live one’s faith by making use of the Sacraments, attending the liturgies and taking part in popular religiosity.
  • Responsibility of professing the Catholic faith. To learn Padre Pio’s spirituality from the Word of God and the writings of the Pope.
  • The witness to a strong and authentic communion with the Pope and the Bishops. To welcome pastoral directives and guidelines in compliance with the teaching of Saint Francis and Saint Pio.Participation in the Church’s apostolic goals. To cooperate with the local Church to announce the Gospel.
  • A commitment to a presence in human society, which in light of the Church’s social doctrine, places it at the service of the total dignity of the person. To take care of the needs of the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza -which Padre Pio entrusted to the Prayer Groups. To care for the needs of the poor, especially those living in the Group’s parish and neighborhood.

By tradition, all of the members of a Prayer Group can consider themselves “Padre Pio’s Spiritual Children” (art 3 guidelines 2.c).