On September 7, 2025, Pope Leo XIV canonized Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati together in a single ceremony. Pier Giorgio, a young Italian, left behind a testimony of charity and joy that continues to inspire generations.
Pier Giorgio was born in Turin in 1901 and died in 1925—exactly 100 years ago.
He grew up in a wealthy family: his father, Alfredo, was a liberal senator, journalist, and owner of the newspaper La Stampa, while his mother, Adelaide, was a well-known painter.
Now officially recognized as a saint alongside Carlo Acutis, Pier Giorgio showed deep compassion for the poor from a young age. In his hometown of Turin, he was known for his solidarity with those in need. He dedicated himself to social action projects that united people in friendship to combat inequality. He opposed fascism, joined student groups, and was active in the Apostolato di Preghiera (Apostleship of Prayer) and Catholic Action.
Lessons from Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati’s life
1) Faith is not an ornament—it is a way of life.
Pier Giorgio lived his faith with intensity and commitment. For him, being a Christian was not just about attending Mass, but about serving the poor, standing for justice, and living in truth. Faith was not an empty routine but something that gave him identity and purpose.
“To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth – that is not living, but existing.”
2) Charity is not optional.
Frassati devoted much of his free time to helping the poor, the sick, and the marginalized—even when it came at the cost of his own comfort. Service to others was a fundamental part of his daily life. He died of fulminant polio, a disease he contracted while helping those in need.
"Jesus comes to me every day in Holy Communion. I repay Him in my miserable way by visiting the poor."
3) Holiness is for everyone—even those who love adventure.
Pier Giorgio loved mountaineering, sports, friendship, politics, and reading. He wasn’t a young man locked away in a church all day. As a member of the Italian Alpine Club, he climbed peaks like the Grand Tournalin and Monte Viso. His life shows us that sainthood does not mean abandoning our passions. We can pursue adventure, friendship, and joy—but always direct them Verso l’alto (“Toward the Heights”), the phrase he once wrote on a mountain photo that summed up both his climbing spirit and his desire for holiness.
“Modern society is drowning in the sorrows of human passions, and it is distancing itself from every ideal of love and peace. Catholics, we and you, must bring the breath of goodness that can only spring from faith in Christ.”
4) Commit yourself to truth and justice.
Pier Giorgio was an active layman, deeply engaged in politics and a strong defender of human rights. He opposed fascism and took an active role in Catholic Action. He reminds us not to settle for superficiality but to live with conviction and work daily for a better world.
“Charity is not enough; we need social reform.”
5) Don’t wait until you’re older to do good.
By the time he died at 24, Pier Giorgio had done more for his community than many accomplish in a lifetime.
“The faith given to me in Baptism surely suggests to me that of yourself you will do nothing; but if you have God as the center of all your actions, then you will reach the goal.”
6) The Eucharist and prayer are our source of strength.
Pier Giorgio attended daily Mass and Communion, prayed the rosary, and spent time in Eucharistic adoration. From prayer, he drew strength for everything else in life. Prayer was not a duty but a lifeline that gave him direction.
“Faith enables us to bear the thorns with which our life is woven.”
In 1922, after much discernment, Pier Giorgio entered the lay branch of the Dominicans. A year later, in May 1923, he made his vows as a lay Dominican. He died just two years later, on July 4, 1925, at the age of 24. The entire city of Turin turned out for his funeral.
Now, a century after his death, the Church officially recognizes him as Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati.