Francesca Lancellotti
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Venerable ''The Venerable'' often shortened to Venerable is a style, title, or epithet used in some Christianity, Christian churches. The title is often accorded to holy persons for their spiritual perfection and wisdom. Catholic In the Catholic Churc ...
Francesca Lancellotti Zotta (7 July 1917 – 4 September 2008) was an Italian farmer and layperson known for her faithfulness and generosity to the poor.
Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
declared Lancellotti a
Servant of God Servant of God () is a title used in the Catholic Church to indicate that an individual is on the first step toward possible canonization as a saint. Terminology The expression ''Servant of God'' appears nine times in the Bible, the first five in ...
in 2015. He later declared her venerable in 2023.


Biography

Francesca Lancellotti was born on 7 July 1917 in
Oppido Lucano Oppido Lucano (Neapolitan language, Oppidano: ; ; ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Acerenza, Cancellara, Genzano di Lucania, Irsina and Tolve. Mai ...
,
Potenza Potenza (, ; ; , Potentino dialect: ''Putenz'') is a ''comune'' in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata (former Lucania). Capital of the Province of Potenza and the Basilicata region, the city is the highest regional capital and one of ...
. She was baptized on 15 August, confirmed on 3 June 1921, and, in 1925, received the
Eucharist The Eucharist ( ; from , ), also called Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament or the Lord's Supper, is a Christianity, Christian Rite (Christianity), rite, considered a sacrament in most churches and an Ordinance (Christianity), ordinance in ...
for the first time. Lancellotti attended school until the second grade, dropping out to work in the fields. Since a young age, Lancellotti was very devout in prayer, frequently visiting the shrine of Our Lady of Purity at the Sanctuary of Belvedere nearby. She wanted to become a nun, but her father persuaded her to get married instead. Lancellotti eventually married Faustino Zotta, a farmer and saddler, on 10 October 1938 after three years of engagement. They had two children together. Lancellotti and her husband started a small business selling tobacco, liquor, and groceries in 1939. She continued being prayerful, opening her house to the needy, and, on 7 July 1956, allegedly had a
private revelation In Christian theology, a private revelation is an instance of revelation, in a broader sense of the term, of divine reality to a person or persons. It contrasts with revelation intended for humanity at large, which is sometimes termed public reve ...
of the archangel
Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * he He ..., a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name * Michael (bishop elect)">Michael (surname)">he He ..., a given nam ...
urging her to go to
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
with her family. This caused the couple to sell their business and move in 1960, opening a house for the poor and those needing spiritual assistance. Before settling down on the Via del Seminario, they lived in the
Primavalle Primavalle is the 27th of Rome, identified by the initials Q. XXVII. It is part of the Municipio XIV. History Thanks to several archaeological discoveries, the first settlements in the area can be dated back to 1st century BC: a structure of t ...
''
quartiere A (; : , ) is an administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions () and provinces (). The can also have the title of (). Formed a ...
'' and near the Pantheon. Following Faustino's death on 24 November 1987, Lancellotti moved in with her daughter on the Via Cavour, Rome. She had colon surgery in 2002 and was unable to leave the house for the rest of her life because of it. She died on 4 September 2008, at the San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital. After her funeral at
Santo Spirito in Sassia Church of the Holy Spirit in the Saxon District (Italian language, Italian: ''La chiesa di Santo Spirito in Sassia'') is a 12th-century Titular church, titular church in Rome, Italy. It is in ''Borgo Santo Spirito'', a street which got its name fr ...
, Lancellotti was originally buried at the Cimitero Flaminio, but she was moved to the Santa Maria ai Monti on 7 July 2021. Her case of beatification and canonization was opened on 16 June 2016 and closed on 17 January 2020, under Cardinal Vicar Angelo De Donatis.


References


External links


Official website
1917 births 2008 deaths 20th-century venerated Christians 21st-century venerated Christians Italian Servants of God Italian venerated Catholics People from the Province of Potenza Venerated Catholics by Pope Francis {{DEFAULTSORT:Lancellotti, Francesca