Giuseppina Vannini was an Italian religious sister born in Rome in 1859. After being orphaned as a child and facing health challenges that initially hindered her religious formation, she partnered with Luigi Tezza to establish the Daughters of Saint Camillus. This congregation was created to serve the sick and dying. Vannini served as the order's superior general, leading the community through significant challenges, including the exile of her co-founder. She died in Rome in 1911 and was later canonized as a saint by Pope Francis.
Life and work
Raised in a Roman orphanage after the death of her parents, Vannini initially sought religious life with the Vincentian Sisters but was forced to leave due to illness. In 1891, she met Luigi Tezza, and together they founded a congregation dedicated to healthcare. Following Tezza's departure to Peru, Vannini managed the order's leadership alone. She worked to sustain the community until her death from heart disease in 1911.
Veneration
The process for her beatification began in the mid-20th century, leading to her being declared venerable in 1992. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 1994 after a miracle was attributed to her intercession. Following a second miracle involving a worker in Brazil, Pope Francis canonized her in 2019. Her feast day is observed on February 23.