Italy has marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young man from Turin who is set to be canonized as a saint in September. The three-day celebration, dubbed “Frassati Days,” drew pilgrims from around the world to Piedmont, the northern Italian region where Frassati lived and left a lasting legacy of faith and charity.
Frassati was born in 1901 into a prominent family and balanced a deep life of faith with active engagement in politics and service to the poor. He joined the Dominican Third Order, climbed Alpine peaks, and distributed food and medicine to the needy in the poorest parts of Turin. He died on 4 July 1925, from polio at the age of 24, believed to have contracted the disease from one of the people he served.
The centenary celebration included a Mass in Turin’s Cathedral of St John the Baptist, where Frassati’s tomb is located. Cardinal Archbishop Roberto Repole described Frassati as “an authentic witness to Christ and the Eternal God” and remembered him as “a natural leader” who loved the mountains and inspired those around him. The cathedral remained open late into the night, with young people kneeling in silence at Frassati’s tomb.
Frassati’s legacy continues to inspire people around the world. His niece, 93-year-old Giovanna Gilardini, attended the Mass and recalled a moment in 1981 when Frassati’s coffin was opened during the beatification process. She said that seeing his incorrupt body solidified her belief in his sanctity. Frassati’s body was found to be preserved from the natural process of decay after death, a phenomenon often associated with saints in Catholic tradition.
Frassati’s story has inspired many young people, including his great-nephew, 14-year-old Pier Giorgio Gilardini. The teenager said that Frassati inspires him to be good and live up to his name. As the Church prepares to recognize Frassati as a saint, his life and legacy continue to be a powerful witness to the Gospel and a source of inspiration for many.