Proceeds from the film will go to the Saint Pio Foundation
A Hollywood actor best known for his role in The Godfather trilogy has announced plans to make a film on the life of St Padre Pio.
Joe Mantegna, who stars in TV series Criminal Minds and voices mob boss Anthony ‘Fat Tony’ D’Amico in The Simpsons, is working in collaboration with the St Pio Foundation to make a film highlighting Padre Pio’s impact on the Catholic Church.
The Italian American, raised a Catholic, and his production partner, Danny Ramm, will make the film through their company Acquaviva Productions in locations across Italy associated with the saint.
The actor described Padre Pio as “one of the most extraordinary men of the 20th Century” and said his life was “truly the stuff of legend”.
Mantegna said: “Painstaking efforts will be made to recreate the time period, including the costumes, hairstyles and furniture, right down to the sandals on Padre Pio’s feet.”
Part of the proceeds from the film will go to the Saint Pio Foundation to help further its work to establish charity medical facilities in the US.