Benigno de Cuneo, born Giuseppe Dalmazzo, was an Italian Franciscan preacher and philosophy professor who lived from 1673 to 1744. After joining the Franciscan order in Turin and becoming a tertiary in Ivrea, he pursued sacred orders in 1697. He studied in Rome for two years alongside Saint Leonardo da Porto Maurizio before returning to the Piedmont region. Throughout his career, he traveled extensively to deliver sermons in locations such as Cuneo, Alba, Nice, Mentone, and Monaco.
Life and ministry
During the siege of Cuneo in 1744, Benigno continued to preach despite the surrounding battles and violence. Local tradition suggests that his voice reached all neighboring towns during his final sermon. He passed away from natural causes in Cuneo on September 19, 1744, while the siege was still ongoing.
Veneration and legacy
The saint was declared venerable by Pope Leo XIII in 1881. Although a canonization process was initiated in 1829, it was eventually halted due to a lack of available funds. His remains were moved between the Franciscan convent and the Cuneo Cathedral before returning to the convent in the nineteenth century.