Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
It was on July 7, 1946, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, that Pope Pius XII canonized Frances Xavier Cabrini, making her the first U.S. citizen to be named a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Four years later, that same pope named her the patron saint of all immigrants. All of this happened about 30 years after her passing in 1917 at the age of 67 at Columbus Hospital in Chicago. Between then and when she arrived in America at the age of 38, she had founded 67 orphanages, hospitals, schools and other social institutions worldwide.
This year, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of her canonization, the town of her birth, Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, in the Lombardy region of Italy, was planning a massive celebration. Because of her strong ties to Chicago, town officials reached out to the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans for help in connecting them with their counterparts in the Windy City.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was unable to attend the event, so his administration asked if I would represent the city at the celebration. I was humbled and honored to accept.
My first thought was to call my dear friend Cristiana Dell’Anna, the actress who starred in the 2024 film “Cabrini,” and ask her to join me for the festivities. When the town heard this celebrated superstar would be accompanying me, you would have thought I was bringing Mother Cabrini herself!
When we arrived at the small town outside of Milan on June 18, Sant’Angelo Lodigiano’s Mayor Cristiano Devecchi and Assessor of Culture Rosita Sali welcomed us with open arms. They hosted a dinner held in honor of Chicago’s participation that was attended by 50 local political, civic and religious leaders, including regional and provincial presidents.
“We look forward to a continued relationship with the Italian-American community of Chicago,” the mayor said. “Mother Cabrini is a powerful link between Sant’Angelo Lodigiano and Chicago, as she has linked us with so many other communities around the world.”
The celebration kicked into a much higher gear the next day when the town of about 15,000 residents hosted upward of 30,000 attendees. Among several unique presentations, the Italian postal service issued a special postmark in honor of the anniversary.
Mother Cabrini’s birthplace, located at 21 Via Madre Cabrini, is now a museum and sanctuary owned and operated by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The head nun took Christina and me on a guided tour of the amazingly well-preserved home, complete with Mother Cabrini’s clothing, prayer areas, garden, bedroom, and so much more authentic memorabilia.
The visit was truly special for Christiana given that this was the first time she had set foot in the ancestral home of the person she portrayed in the film. To witness the deep emotional connection she has with Mother Cabrini was unforgettable. It was a breathtaking experience that brought both of us to tears.
The main event took place at the Basilica dei Santi Antonio Abate e Francesca Cabrini in downtown Sant’Angelo Lodigiano. It’s a vast and grand church, much larger than you’d expect to see in a town of that size.
The mayor and other dignitaries welcomed us again, escorting us to the front section of the church. Thousands of devotees lined the main street into the town. We all waited with bated breath for the arrival of a very special guest of honor.
After an emotional and celebratory introduction by a local cardinal, we all stood as Pope Leo XIV entered the basilica’s expansive interior. To be in his presence was truly awe inspiring. He spoke of peace and unity and celebrated the memory and legacy of Mother Cabrini. He was so warm and welcoming; he even acknowledged the saint’s Chicago connection!
Mother Cabrini’s legacy is still a powerful force throughout the world. To experience it in the town of her birth and hold her actual relic in my hands sent a bolt of love through me that elevated my faith in humanity as a whole.
The above article appears in the September 2026 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture.
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