Pier Giorgio Frassati

The life of Pier Giorgio Frassati is that of a layman deeply engaged in the society of his time, refusing to separate his faith from his social and political responsibilities.

* **Charitable action**: From the age of 17, he joined the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. He dedicated his free time and financial resources to visiting the destitute families, the sick, and the homeless of Turin. He did not hesitate to give his own clothes or shoes to the needy and to carry their modest belongings himself during evictions. * **Associative and political commitment**: An active member of the Italian Catholic University Federation (FUCI) within the "Cesare Balbo" circle, Catholic Action, and the Association of Young Catholic Workers, he also became involved in politics. In 1920, he joined the Italian People's Party (PPI) founded by Don Luigi Sturzo, promoting Christian democracy. A resolute opponent of Benito Mussolini's fascism, he actively participated in demonstrations and was arrested by the police in Rome in September 1921 during a Catholic youth gathering. * **The Third Order of Saint Dominic**: Attracted by the figure of Saint Catherine of Siena and the sermons of Savonarola, he was admitted into the Third Order of Saint Dominic (Dominican laity) on May 28, 1922, at the church of San Domenico in Turin, taking the name "Fra Girolamo." * **The Company of Shady Types (Società dei Tipi Loschi)**: On May 18, 1924, during a mountain excursion, he founded this informal association with his closest friends. Under a joyful and prankish appearance (Pier Giorgio used the pseudonym "Robespierre"), this group aimed to seal an unfailing spiritual friendship, to pray for one another, and to encourage each other to strive for holiness.

The reputation of holiness of Pier Giorgio Frassati grew immediately after his death, particularly among Italian and European Catholic youth.

* **Opening of the cause**: Due to the insistence of the poor of Turin and youth movements, the Archdiocese of Turin opened the diocesan informative process on July 2, 1932. * **Temporary suspension**: In 1941, Pope Pius XII temporarily suspended the cause due to slanderous allegations and false political accusations. After an investigation, these accusations were recognized as completely unfounded, allowing the cause to resume its course. * **Exhumation and incorrupt body**: In 1981, during the exhumation of his remains as part of the canonization process, his body was discovered perfectly intact and incorrupt. His relics were then transferred from the family tomb in Pollone to the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin. * **Venerable**: On October 23, 1987, Pope John Paul II promulgated the decree recognizing the heroic nature of his virtues, declaring him Venerable.

* **Beatification**: Pier Giorgio Frassati was beatified on May 20, 1990, by Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter's Square in Rome. The Pope then proclaimed him the "man of the eight beatitudes," highlighting the way he embodied the Gospel in the simplicity of his daily life. * **Recognition of the second miracle**: On November 25, 2024, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing a second miracle attributed to his intercession, officially opening the way for his canonization. * **Canonization**: Initially scheduled for the Youth Jubilee in the summer of 2025 by Pope Francis, the ceremony was postponed due to the latter's death on April 21, 2025. The new Pope, Leo XIV, elected on May 8, 2025, decided to unite the canonizations of Pier Giorgio Frassati and the young Carlo Acutis. The solemn canonization was celebrated by Pope Leo XIV on September 7, 2025, in Saint Peter's Square in Rome, before more than 80,000 pilgrims.

The spirituality of Pier Giorgio Frassati is characterized by a profound unity of life, where prayer nourishes action and action becomes prayer.

* **A Eucharistic and Marian life**: His heroic charity had its source in daily communion and nocturnal Eucharistic adoration. He recited the rosary every day, often while walking or climbing mountains. For him, service to the poor was inseparable from the Eucharist: "Jesus visits me in Holy Communion every morning, and I return the visit in the poorest way possible by visiting his poor." * **"Verso l'alto" (Towards the heights)**: A great enthusiast of the mountains, mountaineering, and skiing, he loved to contemplate the greatness of God from the peaks of the Alps. On a photograph taken during his last ascent in June 1925, he wrote the phrase that became his spiritual motto: "Verso l'alto." It symbolizes his constant desire to raise his soul toward God and to lead his friends with him. * **Legacy and patronages**: Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati is the patron saint of mountaineers, alpinists, athletes, students, and Catholic youth. Saint John Paul II also designated him as one of the patrons of World Youth Day (WYD). His spiritual legacy remains alive through numerous youth groups, schools, and associations (notably the "Tipi Loschi" fraternities) throughout the world.