The Patron Saint of Car Drivers

Map

Santa Francesca Romana and Her Guardian Angel

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​March 9th is the Feast Day of Santa Francesca Romana (St Frances of Rome), the patron saint of car drivers.

St Frances of Rome is not an immediately familiar saint, even amongst the faithful. And yet in Rome she is very well-known, partly because she was born, lived and died in the Eternal City, and partly because of a rather curious connection. Although she died almost 600 years ago, St. Frances of Rome happens to be the patron saint of car drivers. 

​A church dedicated to the saint lies in the heart of Rome, close to the Colosseum. On the saint’s feast day, the Basilica di Santa Francesca Romana becomes a magnet for the city's car drivers, drawing them to the church to have their cars blessed for another year of life on Rome's roads! 

If you are curious to know how a figure who died hundreds of years before the invention of the internal combustion engine came to be the patron saint of car drivers, it all boils down to the popular belief that Francesca's path was always lit by her guardian angel, whom she had the privilege of being able to see. This was enough for Pope Pius XI (r. 1922-39), who, in 1925, declared her to be their patron saint and protector. Pius XI was the first pope to travel in a car. 

The saint was born (1384) Francesca Bussa de' Leoni in Ponziani, but was known to her friends as Ceccolella. In 1425, Francesca, who was a member of the Roman nobility, founded the order of the Olivetan Oblates of Mary. A few years later she set up a convent to house her order; it is located in the centre of her native city at Tor de’ Specchi, close to the Campidoglio. It was the only house of the order and remains in use to this day. The convent opens its doors to the public but once a year, on March 9th. 

A room in the convent is decorated with a series of frescoes (1468), the work of local artist Antoniazzo Romano (c.1430-c.1510), which illustrate scenes from the saint's life. 

Francesca died on March 9th 1440. She was canonised by Pope Paul V (r. 1605-21) on May 29th 1608. 

The oval bas-relief (1756), the work of Andrea Bergondi, depicts St Frances and her guardian angel. The angel holds open a book on which is written: TENVISTI MANVM DEXTERAM MEAM ET IN VOLVNTATE RVA DEDVXISTI ME ET CVM GLORIA SVSCEPISTI ME (Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory, Psalm 73: 23-24, KJV). 

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Convent of Santa Francesca Romana

Fresco of the Virgin and Child with Santa Francesca Romana

Church of Santa Francesca Romana