Turin: A century separates two Jubilees of the Church: 1925, the Holy Year of Peace, and 2025, the Holy Year of Hope. Bridging the gap is the life of a young man from Turin, Pier Giorgio Frassati, whose witness continues to speak powerfully to Catholic youth around the world. Pope Leo XIV will declare him a saint on September 7, recognizing a life lived as a friend of Christ and a brother to all, by name and by choice.
Frassati, who died at the age of 24, left a legacy rooted in prayer, friendship, and service. Members of Catholic Action an association of lay people dedicated to infusing society with Catholic values testify to his enduring relevance. From Italy to Argentina and Spain, young people see him as a brother, teacher, and model of holiness in everyday life. His faith was never abstract; it was incarnate in deeds, in advocacy for the poor, and in a political engagement shaped by charity.
A Life of Peace and Presence
On July 6, 1925, Frassati’s coffin passed through the streets of Turin, not with dignitaries, but surrounded by the poor, those he had served and loved. A century later, his canonization reminds the Church to ask an enduring question: what kind of peace can we hope for? Catholic Action youth describe him as “a man in love,” whose joy was born through surrender, daily fidelity, and a radical commitment to the Gospel.
“He was a true brother,” says Lorenzo Zardi, vice president of Catholic Action Youth in Italy. “He went to the poor; he served Christ among the miners; he lived politics as service, always for the common good, starting with the least.” Pilgrimages along the “Frassati Trails,” exhibitions, and publications like Di santa ragione continue to share his story, inspiring a new generation to embody faith in action.
The Saint of Mondays
To youth leader Agnese Palmucci, Frassati exemplifies holiness in the ordinary. “He’s the saint of Mondays,” she explains. “He shows us how Sunday’s grace can flow into every day, transforming the routine into prayer, the ordinary into sanctity.” His friendship was tangible, his charity discreet, and his commitment to justice unwavering. He challenged fascism, injustice, and indifference, yet always kept his gaze “toward the heights,” as his sisters recall.
Across continents, Frassati’s influence resonates. Claudia Carbajal, president of Catholic Action Argentina, emphasizes that friendship rooted in Christ forms a shared path to holiness. In Spain, Daniel Díaz Rincón highlights how Frassati’s life models bold Christian engagement in university life and society. “His message is clear: proclaim your faith, support youth communities, and engage with the world,” he says.
Prayer, Politics, and Hope
In Rome, Catholic Action Italy has organized a conference titled Within Life, Within History: The Holiness of Pier Giorgio Frassati, exploring friendship, peace, and social justice. The event culminates in a prayer vigil at Santa Maria in Traspontina, including Eucharistic Adoration and intercessions for youth, the poor, and peace.
Frassati’s identity as “one with the poor” shaped his vision of hope. “You ask me if I’m happy? How could I not be?” reads a quote emblazoned on T-shirts of young Romans. His joy was not naive but rooted in a daily “yes” to God and others. “Every day that passes I am more convinced of how ugly the world is, how much misery there is,” he wrote. “But if God is the center of all your actions, you will reach the goal.”
Pier Giorgio Frassati’s canonization challenges Catholics today with a radical question: what hidden “yes” are we willing to say so that hope becomes flesh, and peace becomes more than just a word? His life, a century later, remains an enduring invitation to live fully, to love boldly, and to be a true brother to all.