Padre Pio's obedience must, of course, be read in the light of St. Thomas Aquinas's: "It is written: 'We ought to obey God rather than men.[Acts 5:29].' Now sometimes the things commanded by superiors [including popes] are against God. Therefore, superiors are not to be obeyed in all things." http://www.unitypublishing.com/Newsletter/PadrePioCrowds.htm -This was the last letter Padre Pio ever wrote. I am sure Padre Pio would say the same thing Lucia said, "He who is not with the Pope is not with God." Or Faustina who was told by Christ, "The devil can imitate humility but he cannot imitate obedience." -Padre Pio's holiness is so extraordinary that it might even be frightening. He is the Simon of Cyrene of this century. His stigmata are the proof, but also his very long days in the confessional. And then his nights dedicated to penance, prayer, struggles with the devil. This is his mysticism of expiation. I have considered P