Science & Culture

Born on March 30, 1865, in Ravadese, Parma, Italy, Saint Guido María Conforti was a member of the Secular Franciscan Third Order who became bishop of Parma and, later, archbishop of Ravenna. On December 3, 1895, he founded the Society of St. Francis Xavier, also known as the Xaverians. Conforti died in Parma on November 5, 1931. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on March 17, 1996 and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 23, 2011.