News Report

Monument to Saint Hannibal Maria Di Francia

in the Vatican

Tuesday, 6 July 2010



A monument to the apostle of prayer for priestly vocations and apostle of the Kingdom of the Divine Will, has been placed in the center of Catholicism: the Saint Peter Basilica at the Vatican. Next Wednesday, July 7, Holy Father Benedict XVI will bless the statue right before his usual Wednesday audience.




Placement of the statue

Past Thursday, June 24, 2010, in the morning hours, the enormous statue of Saint Hannibal Di Francia was placed in its niche at Plaza of Roman Protomartyrs, at the Arch of the Bells of the Saint Peter Basilica at the Vatican. The statue, carved in Carrara marble, weights nearly 10 tons and is 5.3 meters high.

The request to place a monument of St. Hannibal outside the St. Peter Basilica was made to the Holy See for religious congregations founded by St. Father Di Francia, as a tribute to its founder in an effort to spread his holiness and charisma, especially after his canonization.
Master José Ducrot sculpted this work from a single block of Carrara marble. The statue of Father Hannibal is holding the book of the Gospels opened in the Rogate passage, “The harvest indeed is abundant, but the laborers are few. Pray (Rogate) therefore the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest).” (Mt 9: 37-38: Lk 10: 2).




Relationship between St. Hannibal Di Francia and Luisa Piccarreta

The relationship between Saint Hannibal Di Francia and the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta is well known. Besides being her extraordinary confessor in 1926, Father Hannibal was commissioned directly by the Archbishop Mgr Giuseppe M. Leo through regular order, as the Ecclesiastical Censor for the publications of the three dioceses Trani, Barletta and Bisceglie; particularly, the review of all the writings that Luisa had written up to that date. Fr. Di Francia began publishing them after having obtained the Imprimatur of the Archbishop.

In a letter to Louisa, Father Hannibal recalled her that the archbishop had given him, “in order, jurisdiction over you, your writings, and the publication of them, i.e. to handle and dispose of the said publication, as I see fit” (his own words). Fr. Hannibal enjoys unlimited confidence by Archbishop Leo, as evidenced by extensive documentation.

Placement of the Statue on video:



This occupation took him steadily, to almost distract him from his commitments of founder: "I want you to know that since I have totally dedicated myself to the great work of the Divine Will, I practically don’t concern myself at all with my institutes. I talk about it with spiritual people, I keep to this point with those who are able to listen and I promote it as much as I can, even in my institutes…” (Letter to Luisa Piccarreta - Messina. Feb 14, 1927)

A day of special graces

Let us pray on this special occasion to San Hannibal Maria Di Francia that he:
Who reviewed and gave Nulla Obstat to the Writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta, inspires and guides those who now read her writings.

Who published and disseminated "The Hours of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ" and all her other writings helps in this sacred task all those whom God inspires the timely publication of them.

Who overflowed with the divine light of the doctrine of the Divine Will intercedes for us so that we, by constantly dying to our will, can continually live in the Divine Will.

We entrust ourselves to St. Hannibal Maria Di Francia to obtain for us the spiritual graces needed to know, understand and fully live in the Kingdom of the Divine Will.

Let us pray also for the General Chapter of the Rogationist Fathers whose realization occurs on the same date.

All the information is from the publication of the Superior Generals for the religious communities of the Daughters of Divine Zeal and the Rogationist Fathers of the Heart of Jesus. (May 4, 2010).