Angelo d'Acri

Luca Antonio Falcone (19 October 1669 – 30 October 1739) – in religious life Angelo – was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and a professed member of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Capuchin in Cosenza. Falcone had a rough call to religious life after several entries and exits into the order and he later served as a noted preacher across southern Italian cities such as Catanzaro and Salerno after his first few sermons attracted little following. He became titled as both the "Angel of Peace" and the "Apostle of the South".

Falcone became known for ecstasies during the celebration of Mass and was known for converting the hearts of thousands when he went about preaching. The friar possessed the gifts of visions and bilocation and was invited to start preaching in the Neapolitan region at the behest of Cardinal Francesco Pignatelli.

He received beatification from Pope Leo XII on 18 December 1825 after being titled as a Servant of God in 1778 under Pope Pius VI and Venerable under Pope Pius VII on 17 June 1821. He is a patron of Acri and of missionaries. Pope Francis approved his canonization and it was determined at a gathering of cardinals on 20 April 2017 that Falcone would be named as a saint; the canonization was celebrated in Saint Peter's Square on 15 October 2017.

Life Luca Antonio Falcone was born in Cosenza on 19 October 1669 to Francesco Falcone and Diana Enrico – poor parents of humble and pious stock. The miracles involved: the cure of Marianna Bernaudo from Bisignano the cure of Pietro Sacco from Bisignano the cure of Francesco Sirimarco from Sant'Agata d'Esaro The process towards sainthood was formally opened on 22 September 1853. Theologians likewise approved this sometime later as did the C.C.S. before it was taken to the pope for his approval. Pope Francis approved this miracle on 23 March 2017 thus confirming that Falcone will be canonized in 2017; the date was formalized at a gathering of cardinals on 20 April.

Falcone was proclaimed as a saint on 15 October 2017 in Saint Peter's Square.