On February 21-23, 2020, the Postulator General Friar Damian PĂTRAȘCU visited Pisa and Calcinaia, Province of Pisa, Italy, to participate, as an invited guest, at some celebrations sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The celebrations were organized to honor one of the Society’s members, Venerable Lodovico COCCAPANI, whose heroic virtues were recognized by decree of Pope Francis on November 7, 2018.

In Calcinaia, the birthplace of the Venerable, a book was presented, entitled: “Lodovico Coccapani, Knight of Charity.” The book was written by Christian RISTORI and published by Edizioni Tagete, Pontedera (Italy). During the event, the Postulator General held a conference on “The History of the Cause for Venerable Lodovico Coccapani and his Relevance Today”. Additional presentations were made by the book’s author; the President of the Italian National Federation of St. Vincent, Antonio GIANFICO; and the book’s editor, Michele QUIRICI.
Later, the participants went to the Church of San Giovanni Battista in Calcinaia, where a Pontifical Mass was celebrated, presided over by the Most Reverend Giovanni Paolo BENOTTO, Archbishop of Pisa. During Mass, Friar Damian read out the decree by which Pope Francis recognized the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Lodovico COCCAPANI and granted him the title of Venerable.

Friar Damian PĂTRAȘCU, Postulator General

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