Post #5820

St. Francis and St. Catherine, patrons of Italy On the 18th of June 1939 Pius XII constituted the main patrons of Italy in the presence of God St. Francis of Assisi, "the holiest of Italians and the most Italian of saints", and St. Catherine of Siena, "the greatest woman who has formed Catholicism ". On May 5 of the following year, when he went to hold the Papal Chapel in Santa Maria sopra Minerva, the basilica officiated by the Dominicans that houses the sacred remains of the Virgin of Siena, he pronounced an inspired and passionate eulogy which we report below. - Papal brief in which the Holy Father proclaims St. Francis of Assisi and St. Catherine of Siena primary patrons of Italy