Shion de Aries reigned as Grand Pope of the Sanctuary for over 230 years after surviving the 18th-century Holy War against Hades alongside Libra Dohko as the only Gold Saints to endure. Born in Tibet and trained in Jamir, he possessed innate psychic powers such as telekinesis and telepathy, coupled with mastery in cloth repair. Under his mentor Hakurei, Shion honed a unique ability to perceive the past lives of saints through damaged cloths. Following the war, Shion recognized the natural aptitude of his apprentice Mu, training him as successor for the Aries Gold Cloth. Decades later, with Athena's reincarnation as an infant, Shion prepared for the coming conflict and sought a papal successor. Despite Gemini Saga's power and reputation, Shion detected a "terrifying darkness" within him, selecting Sagittarius Aiolos instead for his unwavering loyalty and virtue. This choice led to Shion's assassination when Saga fatally struck him at Star Hill. Resurrected by Hades during the Hades Chapter - Sanctuary arc alongside deceased Gold Saints Saga, Camus, and Shura, Shion was granted a temporary 12-hour lifespan and restored to his 18th-century prime. He publicly pledged allegiance to Hades to assassinate Athena, secretly using this ruse to infiltrate the Sanctuary and deliver vital intelligence: Athena needed to awaken her Eighth Sense within the Underworld to defeat Hades. Maintaining his deception required feigning hostility toward former allies, including pupil Mu, though Shion avoided delivering fatal blows. His mission culminated in a staged battle with Dohko at the Aries Temple. After mutual energy depletion, Shion proceeded to the Athena Statue. There, he restored the damaged cloths of the Bronze Saints using Athena's blood. He then revealed the resurrected saints' true purpose: sacrificing their honor to ensure Athena received her divine armor. Tasking the Bronze Saints with invading the Underworld, Shion's body disintegrated at dawn. His final act was a private reunion with Dohko, expressing reassurance and camaraderie. Shion's combat mastery centered on the Seventh Sense, enabling light-speed movement and cosmic energy manipulation. His signature techniques included the Stardust Revolution, unleashing a barrage of stellar energy, and the Crystal Wall, a versatile defensive barrier capable of reflecting attacks. Spin-offs like The Lost Canvas depict him using the Praesepe Celestial Wave, a sphere of fused souls effective against divine opponents. Across all media, Shion exemplified strategic foresight and self-sacrifice. His profound bond with Dohko, forged through shared survival in the 18th century, remained a narrative cornerstone, influencing their coordinated actions during the Hades conflict.