Aloisian Year 2026

A Year for Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

The Aloisian Year 2026 is the initiative with which the Diocese of Mantua celebrates the third centenary of the canonization of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, proclaimed a saint in 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII. Aloysius Gonzaga was born in Castiglione delle Stiviere (MN) on March 9, 1568, and died in Rome on June 21, 1591, while assisting plague victims; in 1729, he was proclaimed the patron saint of students. The jubilee year rediscovers him as an "actual witness to how it is possible to be young and Christian," with a scope that extends beyond the Mantua diocese to the entire Ecclesiastical Region of Lombardy.

Plenary Indulgence

The Apostolic Penitentiary has granted plenary indulgence to the faithful who visit the Basilica-Sanctuary of Saint Aloysius on pilgrimage, participate in the rites on the feast days of March 9 (birth) and June 21 (dies natalis), and fulfill the usual conditions of confession, communion, and prayer according to the intentions of the Pope.

Aloisian Sites

The program highlights the city's Aloisian sites: the Aloisian Historical Museum, the Stele marking the saint's birthplace, the Convent of Santa Maria, and the Hermitage of Ghisiola. Pilgrimages, celebrations, and cultural initiatives follow one another throughout the year, making Castiglione delle Stiviere a spiritual reference point for the faithful and young people throughout Lombardy.

A Town Celebrating

The Aloisian Year opens on January 1, 2026, and closes on January 3, 2027. The most solemn moments, with celebrations presided over by bishops and Church personalities, are concentrated around the main dates of March 9 and June 21. For Castiglione delle Stiviere, the town that preserves the relics and memory of its most illustrious saint, it is an occasion for an extraordinary year of faith, culture, and hospitality.