Padre Pio Coloring Page
This Padre Pio coloring page shows the gentle Capuchin friar in his brown hooded habit and soft gloves, holding a rosary and raising his hand in blessing, with his small friary church behind him. The PDF is free to print. Padre Pio was an Italian priest who prayed constantly and heard confessions for hours.
The story of Padre Pio
In a little farming town in Italy called Pietrelcina, a baby boy named Francesco was born in 1887. His family was poor, and Francesco helped take care of the sheep. Even as a small boy, he loved to pray.
When he grew up, Francesco joined the Capuchins, a group of friars who follow the way of St. Francis of Assisi. He took the name Pio, and he became a priest. Everyone called him Padre Pio, which means "Father Pio."
Padre Pio lived for more than fifty years in a small friary on a mountain, in a town called San Giovanni Rotondo. He said Mass with great love, and he spent many hours every day hearing confessions, helping people tell God they were sorry and receive His forgiveness.
Something amazing happened to Padre Pio. He received wounds in his hands, feet and side, like the wounds of Jesus on the cross. He kept his hands covered with soft gloves, because he did not want people to make a fuss about him. He wanted them to come close to Jesus.
People came from all over the world to see him. Padre Pio built a big hospital to care for the sick, and he started prayer groups so that people everywhere would pray together. He prayed the rosary all day long.
Padre Pio went to heaven in 1968, and in 2002 Pope John Paul II declared him St. Pio of Pietrelcina. His feast is September 23.
What to color
- His habit: brown, the color worn by Capuchin friars, with a hood.
- The white cord: white, with three knots for his three promises to God.
- His gloves: brown or black, covering his hands.
- The rosary: any color you like. Padre Pio prayed the rosary every day.
- The friary church and hills: gray stone, green olive trees and a blue sky.
A prayer to pray together
Many short prayers are said to come from Padre Pio, but the simplest prayer is the best one for children:
St. Pio, pray for us, and help us to pray every day and to say "I'm sorry" to God.
For older children and grown-ups, see our page on the Padre Pio prayer.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page for his feast on September 23.
- Pray one decade of the rosary together (one Our Father and ten Hail Marys). See how to pray the rosary.
- Talk about it: why is it good to tell God we are sorry? Families with older children can plan to go to confession together.
- Make a card for someone in the hospital, as Padre Pio cared for the sick.
- Start a little prayer group at home: choose one time each week to pray together.
Read the full story: St. Pio of Pietrelcina in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for Padre Pio?
His Capuchin habit was brown, with a white cord around the waist. His gloves were usually brown or black, his beard white, and his rosary any color you like.
Why does Padre Pio wear gloves?
For fifty years Padre Pio had wounds in his hands like the wounds of Jesus on the cross. He kept them covered with soft fingerless gloves, because he did not want people to look at him. He wanted them to look at Jesus.
Why are there three knots in his cord?
Friars like Padre Pio make three promises to God: to live simply and poorly, to keep their hearts pure, and to obey. The three knots remind them of those promises.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.