ROMA (ITALPRESS) – The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, issued on October 08, 2025 the law “Institution of the national feast of San Francesco d’Assisi”, approved by the Chamber of Deputies on September 23, 2025 and the Senate of the Republic on October 1, sending to the President of the Senate of the Republic, Ignazio La Russo and to the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana, the following letter: “I was subjected to the promulgation of the law “Institution of the national feast of San Francesco d’Assisi”, approved by the Chamber of Deputies on 23 September 2025 and the Senate of the Republic on 1 October last. I have provided for the promulgation of the law – although its text presents some critical aspects that I feel the duty to report – in view of the meaning of the measure and the circumstance that the reliefs do not concern profiles of a constitutional nature”.
“Article 1 of the law, in the first paragraph – in order to promote the values of peace, brotherhood, protection of the environment and solidarity – establishes the national feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron of Italy, to be celebrated on October 4 of each year. Consequently, the second subparagraph inserts on 4 October, as “national festival of San Francesco d’Assisi, patron saint of Italy”, in the list of days considered national holidays from which the effects of the observance of the complete festive time in the workplace and the prohibition of performing certain legal acts”.
“The third paragraph of the same article 1 amends the Law of 4 March 1958 n. 132, “Fective competition of 4 October in honor of the Special Patrones of Italy San Francesco d’Assisi and Santa Caterina da Siena”, limiting itself to expel from the law and its title any reference to San Francesco. Accordingly, Law No. 132 of 1958 now provides that “October 4 is considered a civil solemnity and a day of peace, fraternity and dialogue between different cultures and religions, in honor of the Patroness of Italy Saint Catherine of Siena”.
“The regulatory framework resulting from the approved law, therefore, is as follows: the same day of 4 October is qualified both national holidays, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, and civil solemnity, in honor of St. Catherine of Siena. With two different norms it is expected that, with reference to the two Saints, the same values are celebrated substantially on the same day but with a different regime”.
“In both cases it is foreseen, in particular, that, on the same day of October 4, schools can promote initiatives dedicated to the universal values of which each of the two Saints is considered an expression. Initiatives will no longer be able to take place on 4 October as a festive day. With regard to St. Francis, the possibility of taking such initiatives is extended to public administrations, third sector bodies and to “public institutions at national, regional and local level”.
“It is clear how the rules governing the two occasions require corrective measures to coordinate the two regulatory texts. First, I must point out that the same day – on October 4 – cannot be qualified, at the same time, both national holidays and civil solemnity, also because, among other things, our order results in different effects. Therefore, a choice in this sense – probably repealing the prediction of civil solemnity, less relevant – and, necessarily, clarifying whether to refer for the festive day of 4 October exclusively to St. Francis or even to St. Catherine, until today considered jointly”.
“In addition, better coordination deserves the indication of the initiatives that the institutions will be able to take and their content, this especially in case it is intended to establish different dates for the two occasions. As far as schools and public offices are concerned, it will be necessary to take account of the now festive character of the day of 4 October. I therefore invite Parliament to make the necessary corrections to the measure. Finally, I cannot emphasize the need for legislative texts to present clear and unequivocal content.”.
– foto Quirinale –
(ITALPRESS).
