On 7 September 2025, Pope Leo will canonise Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young Italian student and social activist who died 100 years ago this year on 4 July 1925.
Pier Giorgio will be canonised alongside another young Italian of the 21st century, Carlo Acutis, whose cause has become very popular among young people today.
Here, however, we’ll focus on Pier Giorgio, whose life story is well told in many places, and the Cardijn connection to his sainthood cause. Nevertheless, we’ll begin with a summary.
Pier-Giorgio’s life
Pier Giorgio was born on 6 April, 1901, the son of Alfredo Frassati, the agnostic founder of the La Stampa newspaper, which still exists today, and Adelaide Ametis, a well-known painter of that time.
Not a great student, he eventually graduated as an engineer.
However, he quickly became involved in social action of all kinds, joining the Society of St Vincent de Paul when he was seventeen.
One of his favourite sayings, however, was “Charity is not enough; we need social reform.” And he also devoted himself to this latter cause, joining the Italian Catholic Students Federation (FUCI), which was part of the Italian Catholic Action movement. Indeed, in 1921 he participated in the foundation conference of the International Movement of Catholic Students known as Pax Romana in Fribourg, Switzerland.
He was even arrested while protesting alongside a Young Catholic Workers congress in 1921 (NOT Cardijn’s YCW, by the way). And he was an early opponent of Benito Mussolini and fascism.
A deeply spiritual person, Pier Giorgio also joined the Apostolate of Prayer, and became a professed member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic on 28 May 1922.
There are many stories of his generosity and concern for the poor and the sick.
When his father offered him a choice between a car or a considerable sum of money, he chose the latter so that he could give it to the poor.
He provided a bed for a tuberculosis sufferer on one occasion as well as supporting the three children of an ill widow and finding a place for an evicted woman.
He was also an active sportsperson and a keen mountaineer.
In short, a very active young man whose life was tragically cut short by the polio that he contracted likely while visiting the ill.
After he died on 4 July 1925, thousands attended his funeral.
His holiness was quickly recognised and Cardinal Maurilio Fossati of Turin began the process of beatification at diocesan level in 1932, a process that concluded in 1935.
Pier Giorgio’s writings were also examined for doctrinal correctness, a process that also concluded on 21 December 1938.
The next stage of the process would then move to the Vatican’s Congregration of the Saints.
Cardijn’s role
And it is at this stage that YCW founder, Joseph Cardijn, took the initiative. In fact, looking back over Pier Giorgio’s life, it’s not surprising that Cardijn would take an interest in him.
Moreover, Cardijn was always close to the Catholic student movement, having launched the Catholic Social Youth (Jeunesse Sociale Catholique) in parallel with the Jeunesse Syndicaliste or Young Trade Unionists, which would morph into the Young Christian Workers.
Cardijn was also very close to Pax Romana. I’ve long wondered if he may have actually joined the inaugural Pax Romana conference in 1921 – another question for future researchers!
In any case, Cardijn evidently was well aware of Pier Giorgio’s life. And he evidently wanted to promote him as a model of holiness and action for YCW leaders.
Thus, just one month later on 24 January, Cardijn wrote personally to his friend Pope Pius XI supporting the introduction of Pier Giorgio’s cause at the Holy See.
Perhaps that letter may also be found in the Vatican Archives but at this point I do not have a copy.
What we do have is the text of the response from the Secretary of State, Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, soon to become Pope Pius XII.
Here is the French text:
Dal Vaticano, le 27 février 1938
N° 167551
da citarsi nella riposta.
Monsieur le Chanoine J. Cardijn
79 Boulevard Poincaré, Bruxelles
Monsieur le Chanoine,
Je suis heureux de vous informer que le Saint Père a reçu votre supplique du 24 janvier p.p., pour l’introduction de la Cause de Béatification du Serviteur de Dieu: Pierre-Georges Frassati.
Ne doutant pas que le succès de cette Cause donnerait un très puissant Protecteur à l’Action Catholique, Sa Sainteté S’unit à vos désirs et à vos prières pour que le Ciel veuille bien réaliser ces voeux et, dans cet espoir, Elle envoie pour vous-même et pour tous les signataires de cette lettre la Bénédiction Apostolique implorée.
En vous prévenant que cette demande a été transmise, pour compétence, à la Sacrée Congrégation des Rites, je saisis l’occasion pour vous donner, Monsieur le Chanoine, la nouvelle assurance de mon religieux dévouement.
E. Card. Pacelli
And here is an English translation:
From the Vatican, 27 February, 1938
No. 167551
In response.
Canon J. Cardijn
79 Boulevard Poincaré, Brussels
Dear Canon,
I am pleased to inform you that the Holy Father has received your petition of 24 January this year, for the introduction of the Cause for Beatification of the Servant of God: Pier Giorgio Frassati.
Certain that the success of this Cause would provide a very powerful Protector for Catholic Action, His Holiness joins in your desires and prayers that Heaven may grant these wishes and, in this hope, sends the Apostolic Blessing you have implored for yourself and for all the signatories of this letter.
In informing you that this request has been forwarded, for its proper jurisdiction, to the Sacred Congregation of Rites, I take this opportunity to reassure you, Canon, of my religious devotion.
E. Card. Pacelli
It has taken another 87 years for Pier Giorgio’s cause for canonisation to reach its conclusion.
It’s difficult to know what impact if any Cardijn’s appeal may have.
Still his letter to Pius XI stands an illustration both of his respect and admiration for Pier Giorgio and also his concern to provide models of holiness for young people.
Stefan Gigacz
READ MORE
Cardinal Pacelli – Cardijn 27 02 1938 (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)
Pier Giorgio Frassati (Wikipedia)