Pio, Lugari, and Cuny - by Jim Lowenstern (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This compelling manuscript interlaces the remarkable stories of three visionary men: Padre Pio, Paolo Lugari, and Fred Cuny. Though vastly different in time and purpose, their lives converge on a single theme: the transformative power of faith, compassion, and action in a suffering world.

Beginning with St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, the book explores the miraculous and deeply spiritual life of the humble Capuchin friar known for his stigmata, bilocation, and healing miracles. Drawing on documented accounts, personal testimonies, and faith narratives, it captures how Padre Pio's life of prayer, sacrifice, and divine service offered hope and solace to the brokenhearted. Through stories of miraculous appearances from Italy to New York, the manuscript highlights his enduring message of charity, humility, and unwavering faith in God's will.

The narrative then transitions into the story of Paolo Lugari, the Colombian environmental visionary who founded Gaviotas, an experimental community built on sustainability, equality, and innovation. Lugari's dream was to turn the barren plains of the Llanos into a thriving, self-sufficient ecosystem. The book details the evolution of this project: the creation of solar-powered stoves, water-pumping seesaws, biomass plants, and reforestation with Caribbean pines, all inspired by a vision of harmony between humanity and nature. Gaviotas stands as both a scientific marvel and a moral statement, proving that sustainable living and peace are achievable even in a world scarred by conflict and greed.

The final section chronicles the life of Fred Cuny, the Texan engineer turned humanitarian known as "the man who tried to save the world. From Biafra and Guatemala to Sarajevo and Chechnya, Cuny's innovative methods in disaster relief and refugee support revolutionized humanitarian response. His company, Intertect, pioneered advances in emergency housing, water sanitation, and famine logistics. The manuscript recounts Cuny's bravery amid war and bureaucracy, his collaboration with global leaders like George Soros, and the tragedy of his disappearance in Chechnya, which cemented his legacy as a symbol of compassion in action.