The Popes on Saint Frassati

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati was propelled onto the world stage, so to speak, by Pope Saint John Paul II.  It was late in the 1970s, when we still knew him only as Cardinal Wojtyla, that he gave him the name, "The Man of the Eight Beatitudes."  Throughout his pontificate, he encouraged young people to follow the example of Saint Pier Giorgio.  This message was continued by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Pope Francis and now Pope Leo XIV.

It is interesting that Saint Pier Giorgio would be on the lips of modern popes as, during his lifetime, he had a great love for the papacy. In April 1922, he wrote the following to his friend, Mario Bergonzi, who lived in Rome:

"Dear Mario,
I’d like to be in your place to see the Holy Father every now and then, you know how I love the Pope, I’d like to do something for him, but being unable to do so I pray every day, that Jesus would give him many consolations and blessings.
Long live the Pope, long may he live.

-Pier Giorgio Frassati"

To read some of the words of the popes on Saint Frassati, click on their picture below.