Pier Giorgio Frassati
Italian Dominican tertiary and social activist (1901–1925)
Feast: 4 July (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
The Vatican record
- 25 November 2024 — Miracle through their intercession approved (decree list, 2024)
Who they were
Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in Turin on 6 April 1901. He found his faith through school and church groups, including Catholic Action and the lay Dominicans, and gave his time to the poor of the city. His friends nicknamed him the 'Frassati Transport Company' after seeing him carry supplies through the streets for people in need.
He died in Turin on 4 July 1925, aged 24, of a fast-moving meningitis caused by polio.
The miracles
Domenico Sellan — Italy — 1933
A man suffering from Pott's disease, tuberculosis of the spine, recovered suddenly after asking for Pier Giorgio's intercession.
Juan Gutierrez — Camarillo, California, USA — 2017
A seminarian for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles tore his Achilles tendon playing basketball; an MRI confirmed the tear. Worried about the recovery and the cost, he began a novena to Pier Giorgio. A few days in, praying alone in the seminary chapel, he felt heat around the injury. His orthopaedic surgeon then found the tear shown on the MRI was gone and no surgery was needed. He has since been ordained a priest.
Why that counted as sanctity
On 23 October 1987 the Church declared that this life showed the Christian virtues to a heroic degree, and gave the title Venerable. The case of Domenico Sellan was examined by the Church's doctors and theologians and approved as a miracle on 21 December 1989, opening the way to beatification. Beatification followed on 20 May 1990 by John Paul II. The case of Juan Gutierrez was examined by the Church's doctors and theologians and approved as a miracle on 25 November 2024, opening the way to canonisation. Canonisation followed on 7 September 2025 by Leo XIV.
Connected on this site
- Carlo Acutis Saint“Acutis was canonised on 7 September 2025, alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati.” — Wikipedia
- Vincent de Paul Saint“He was dedicated to social justice issues and joined several charitable organizations, including Catholic Action and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, to better aid the poor and less fortunate living in his hometown of Turin.” — Wikipedia
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - decree of 25 Nov 2024
- Holy See - homily of Pope Leo XIV at the canonisation, 7 Sep 2025
- Aleteia - chronology of the life and canonisation of Pier Giorgio Frassati
- National Catholic Register / CNA - Los Angeles priest recounts the miracle
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints — promulgated decrees (causesanti.va), summarised in our own words
- Wikidata Q679784 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Pier Giorgio Frassati (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.