Lenten campaign 2026
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In the Vatican, tradition holds that neither the reigning pope’s birthday nor the feast attached to his papal name (currently Leo the Great, November 10) is marked with a public holiday, but rather the feast corresponding to his baptismal first name.
Only the first given name counts, as was the case for Francis, baptized Jorge Mario Bergoglio. During his pontificate, the feast of St. George was celebrated as a holiday on April 23. Under John Paul II, baptized Karol Wojtyła, the feast of St. Charles Borromeo was observed, November 4.
Under Benedict XVI, employees lost a non-working day, since the feast of St. Joseph (March 19), as well as St. Joseph the Worker (May 1), were already holidays in the Vatican.
This year, Vatican employees almost had an extra holiday: Francis died on April 21, only two days before his feast. So they missed out on a day off for St. George.
St. Robert Bellarmine
Who is the patron saint of the new pontiff?
A member of the Society of Jesus, St. Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621) was a brilliant intellectual, professor, and preacher, engaged in the theological struggle against Protestants in the service of the papacy.
He was responsible for a revision of the Vulgate translation of the Bible and numerous works, including a catechism that enjoyed great success.
He could have been elected pope in 1605 were it not for Spain’s veto. He also took part in the judicial proceedings against Galileo and Giordano Bruno.
Public holidays in the Vatican
In the Vatican, in addition to every Sunday, 25 feast days are scheduled per year. Nine of them are prescribed by canon law: Christmas (December 25), Epiphany (January 6), Ascension (the 40th day after Easter), the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1), the Immaculate Conception (December 8), the Assumption (August 15), St. Joseph (March 19), the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29), and All Saints’ Day (November 1).
The regulations of the Roman Curia provide for 16 other holidays: the anniversary of the signing of the Lateran Accords (February 11), St. Joseph the Worker (May 1), Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday, August 14 and 16 (the days surrounding the August 15 feast of the Assumption), the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (November 2), December 24, 26, 27, and 31, as well as two feasts linked to the pope: Now St. Robert (September 17) and the anniversary of the election of Leo XIV (May 8).
