Italy set to restore official St. Francis holiday after parliamentary vote

Italy has moved closer to restoring a national holiday in honor of its patron saint, Francis, after its lower house overwhelmingly backed an initiative that called the move critical to the country's identity.

The right-wing government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni supports the proposed legislation, saying that Saint Francis is at the core of the nation's identity. 

The bill, which would give millions of Italian workers a day off on the saint's feast day on October 4, received 247 votes in favor and just two against. There were also eight abstentions.

A national holiday was previously celebrated in Italy for the medieval friar, for his devotion to the poor, but it was discontinued in 1977./ CNA

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