Feast

Roberto Benigni is returning to Italian television to celebrate Saint Francis of Assisi, Italy's patron saint, on Rai Uno on the evening of October 4, the day dedicated to the saint. The actor and director is expected to give one of his celebrated storytelling performances, recounting the life of Francis. Italian media are promoting the broadcast as a highlight of the saint's feast day.

The church of the Pioppa in Cremona is reopening on Wednesday 7 October, the feast day of the Madonna del Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary). Local coverage in Cremona is drawing attention to the event, which marks the return to use of the historic church on an important date in the Catholic calendar. The reopening has sparked local interest in the building and its significance.

Italy is restoring 4 October, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, as a national public holiday. With the date falling on a Saturday in 2025, many workers stand to gain extra pay, and Corriere della Sera reports on how much salaries increase for those entitled to the allowance. The move has drawn wide attention as it is the first new public holiday added to the Italian calendar in decades.

A new panel at the Parish of Our Lady of Aparecida in Campo Largo, Paraná, was blessed during a novena held in honour of Brazil's patron saint. The devotion to Nossa Senhora Aparecida peaks around her feast day on 12 October, when parishes across Brazil hold nine-day novenas. Local faithful attended the blessing ceremony, which marked the parish's celebrations.

West Indies batter Shai Hope is making headlines after a Sunday of cricket in which the most centuries were scored in a single day, setting a new record. Fans were treated to a feast of hundreds, with Hope among the standout performers, and coverage in Indian media highlighted the unprecedented milestone of multiple tons on the same day.

St. Michael Catholic Church held its annual Blessing of the Pets, a service in which owners bring their animals to receive a blessing. The tradition, often tied to the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, draws pet owners to churches each autumn. The event was covered by local news in Upper Michigan.

The Barceloneta neighbourhood in Barcelona is bringing back its maritime memory with a free programme of activities. The line-up includes a popular sardinada — a grilled sardine feast — net-mending workshops and talks about the sea, celebrating the district's fishing roots. The initiative has drawn attention as the former fishing quarter continues to balance its working-class heritage with tourism pressure.

Priests at Malate Church in Manila, Philippines, have blessed dogs and other pets in an annual ceremony marking the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Owners brought their animals to the church grounds for the traditional blessing, which has drawn wide coverage from international outlets. The event highlights a popular Catholic tradition blending faith and affection for animals.

Assisi is commemorating 800 years since the death of St. Francis, with thousands of pilgrims gathering at the Porziuncola for the Transitus ceremony marking his passing. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi and Italian President Sergio Mattarella attended the Feast Day Mass on October 4, a highlight of the jubilee year in the Umbrian town.

Catholics around the world are marking the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, held each year on 4 October. The day honours the 13th-century friar known for his devotion to poverty, humility and care for animals and nature. Many parishes hold blessings of pets, and the date is also linked to prayers for peace and environmental protection.

International Translation Day is being celebrated, marking the United Nations-designated date honoring translators worldwide. The day coincides with the feast of St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators, who translated the Bible into Latin in a version known as the Vulgate. Readers and literary organisations are using the occasion to highlight translation as an essential literary art that brings books across languages and cultures.

World of WearableArt, the New Zealand-based art and design competition, is presenting its GLO! show, which combines wearable art with stage performance in a celebration of culture, nature, and imaginative design. The event draws designers and audiences from around the world, blending fashion, theatre, and spectacle. Early commentary highlights its mix of whimsy and craftsmanship as a standout on the international arts calendar.

Katmai National Park's annual Fat Bear Week contest is underway, with fans voting in a bracket-style tournament to crown Alaska's fattest brown bear before hibernation. The event celebrates the bears' dramatic summer salmon feasts at Brooks River, and each year it draws huge online participation, playful banter over 'chonky' contenders, and attention to bear conservation.

Priests in the Philippines have blessed dogs, cats and other animals in a church ceremony marking the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Wagging tails and pet owners filled the pews as clergy sprinkled holy water over the animals, a popular Catholic tradition that draws wide attention each October for its heartwarming scenes.

Churches around the world marked the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi with traditional blessings of the animals, with photo galleries showing pets brought to services for the ritual. The observance honours the 13th-century saint known for his love of animals and nature, a custom that continues to draw crowds of pet owners each October.

Episcopal churches held blessings of animals to mark the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century saint known for his love of creation. Congregations brought pets and other animals to services for the traditional blessing, an annual custom that draws pet owners and highlights the church's teachings on care for animals and the natural world.

A church in Johnstown, Pennsylvania held its annual blessing of pets, an event honoring the bond between people and their animals. Attendees brought companion animals to receive a blessing, continuing a tradition often tied to the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Local coverage highlighted the celebration of companionship and the church's role in bringing the community together.

Italy celebrates the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on 4 October, a date that returned to the national holiday calendar in 2025 after nearly half a century. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered a speech marking the re-introduction of the feast, which honours the patron saint of Italy and animals. The reinstatement of the date is drawing wide attention across the country.

A church in Marion held its annual blessing of pets, an event where animals are brought by their owners to receive a blessing. The ceremony is part of a tradition honoring St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, typically held around his feast day in early October. Local coverage highlighted the congregation gathering with dogs, cats and other pets for the service.

Dogs and their owners gathered at New Community Church for a traditional animal blessing, with photos showing the pets lined up ahead of the ceremony. Blessings of animals are typically held around the feast of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, and local reactions have been warm and lighthearted.

St. Mary's Church has held its fifth annual Blessing of the Pets, a ceremony in which parishioners bring their animals to receive a blessing. The event, covered by local news, continues a growing tradition among congregations that ties faith to the bond between people and their pets.

The New York Giants turned up the defensive pressure against the Arizona Cardinals even with star pass rusher Brian Burns unavailable. The team dialed up blitzes and aggressive schemes, and rookie Abdul Carter took full advantage, delivering a dominant performance that drew attention across NFL coverage.

Churches around the world are observing the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, with ceremonies blessing people's pets. During the services, religious leaders typically offer a short prayer and sprinkle the animals with holy water. The tradition draws pet owners to churches each year around the feast day.

Old North Church in Boston held its blessing of the animals on Sunday. The traditional service, often held around the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, invites pet owners to bring their animals to church for a blessing. The event drew attention as one of the city's best-known historic churches continued its long-running community tradition.