Saint Catherine of Siena,
T.O.S.D. (March 25, 1347 in Siena – April 29, 1380 in Rome), was a
tertiary of the
Dominican Order and a
Scholastic philosopher and
theologian. She also worked to bring the papacy of
Gregory XI back to
Rome from
its displacement in France and to establish peace among the Italian city-states. Since 18 June 1939, she is one of the two
patron saints of
Italy, together with St.
Francis of Assisi. On 3 October 1970, she was proclaimed a
Doctor of the Church by
Pope Paul VI, and on 1 October 1999,
Pope John Paul II named her as one of the six
patron saints of
Europe, together with
Benedict of Nursia,
Saints Cyril and Methodius,
Bridget of Sweden and
Edith Stein.