St. Riccardo Pampuri was an Italian doctor and religious layman who, despite his short life, devoted himself to serving the sick and the poor. He was canonized for his profound Christian witness and his service to others.
St. Riccardo Pampuri was born on October 1, 1905, in the small village of Codogno in Italy. As a young man, he felt a strong calling to serve others, and after studying medicine, he chose to dedicate his life to helping the sick. His deep Christian faith was the foundation of his medical practice, and he believed that healing the body was just as important as caring for the soul.
Riccardo became a doctor and worked in his hometown, where he would spend countless hours tending to the needs of the poor and the sick. Despite the demands of his medical profession, he also lived a life of personal austerity and devotion, practicing daily prayer and humility. He lived out the message of the Gospel in his actions, serving others selflessly and with a deep sense of compassion.
In 1930, at the age of just 25, Riccardo fell ill with tuberculosis, a disease that claimed his life after only a short time of suffering. His death on May 1, 1930, deeply saddened his community, but his legacy of service and faith continued to inspire those who knew him. St. Riccardo Pampuri’s example of living out the Christian virtues of charity, faith, and humility led to his beatification in 1980 by Pope John Paul II.
He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on November 1, 1989, for his extraordinary life of service, despite his relatively short time on earth. His canonization highlighted his profound witness as a layperson living the Gospel in the context of his work as a doctor. St. Riccardo’s life was a powerful example of how ordinary people, through their faith and work, can become saints.
Today, St. Riccardo Pampuri is remembered not only as a patron of doctors but also as a model of Christian charity. His feast day, celebrated on May 1, is a reminder of the importance of living one’s faith in service to others.