This is the riveting and mysterious story of Pope St. Celestine V, the pope who retired from the papacy after a very short reign. At the close of the tumultuous Middle Ages, this future monk and pope seemed destined from birth to save the world. He became a hermit and the founder of a religious order, but the hidden designs of Divine Providence would, practically overnight, transform this humble servant of God into the most powerful man in the Catholic Church. Half a year later, he would be the only pope in history until then to abdicate the Chair of St. Peter. What caused him to make that astonishing decision and the events that followed were shrouded in mystery for centuries.

This docu-drama investigates the secrecy of this dramatic time in history and reveals a story that involves deadly dealings, apocalyptic maneuverings, and papal intrigue. Shot on location in Italy with beautiful scenery of the Italian countryside, ancient churches, and castles, it makes use of classic medieval art to illustrate the story of Celestine. Historians, professors, and monks provide insightful commentary about the life and times of this controversial and enigmatic saint.