Francis Mary of Camporosso

Francesco Maria da Camporosso (27 December 1804 - 17 September 1866) - born Giovanni Croese - was an Italian Roman Catholic professed religious from the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. Croese became a beggar in Genoa where he sought alms from people and was at first heckled and assaulted before his reputation for personal holiness spread which prompted people to come and see him.

The cause for his sainthood commenced on 9 August 1896 under Pope Leo XIII while Pope Pius XI titled him as Venerable on 18 December 1922 and later beatified him on 30 June 1929. Pope John XXIII canonized him as a saint on 9 December 1962 inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

Life Giovanni Croese was born on 27 December 1804 in Camporosso to Anselmo Croese and Maria Antonia Garza and he received his baptism on 29 December in his local parish church. In his childhood he helped his father with the farm work. He received his First Communion in 1816 on the feast of Corpus Christi. The cause for his sainthood was opened on 30 March 1931, and the confirmation of two more additional miracles allowed for Pope John XXIII to canonize the friar on 9 December 1962.