Giorgio La Pira, the deeply
religious Christian Democrat mayor of Florence in the early 50s
and 60s, was set on a possible path to sainthood Thursday when
Pope Francis recognised his "heroic virtues".
The pope authorised the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
to promulgate a decree regarding the "heroic virtues of Servant
of God Giorgio la Pira".
This is the first step towards an eventual process of
beatification and canonisation.
La Pira was born in Pozzallo on January 4 1904 and died in
Florence on November 5 1977.
He was was mayor of Florence in 1951-57 and again in
1961-1966, and distinguished himself as a peace activist.
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