Catherine of Siena

Catherine of Siena, born Caterina Benincasa in 1347, is a major figure in the 14th-century Catholic Church. A member of the Dominican Third Order, she is known for her intense mystical experiences, visions, and invisible stigmata. Despite having received no formal education, she was an influential advisor to Popes Gregory XI and Urban VI, urging them to reform the Church and return to Rome from Avignon, thus playing a crucial role in ending the Avignon Papacy and the Great Western Schism. Her writings, especially 'The Dialogue of Divine Providence' (or 'The Book of Divine Doctrine'), are considered masterpieces of mystical literature. She was canonized in 1461 and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Paul VI in 1970, one of the first women to receive this title. She is a co-patron of Europe and Italy.