Villa Santa Maria Celebrates St. Francis Caracciolo, Patron of Cooks
In the birthplace of St. Francis Caracciolo, founder of the Clerics Regular Minor and heavenly patron of Italian cooks, the 45th National Chefs’ Festival opened this year as a vibrant encounter of faith, tradition, and culinary culture.
The opening day, dedicated entirely to the religious celebration, was presided over by Most Rev. Bruno Forte, Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto, in the parish church of Villa Santa Maria, with the participation of Fr. Francesco Iannamico, Superior of the Italian Delegation of the Adorno Fathers, Fr. Pierpaolo Ottone, C.R.M., Spiritual Director of the Federazione Italiana Cuochi (Italian Chefs’ Federation), and many members of the Order.
The celebration anticipated the birthday of the Saint, born in Villa Santa Maria on October 13, 1563, and marked the spiritual heart of the entire event. In his homily, Archbishop Forte reflected on three central aspects of Caracciolo spirituality — adoration, fraternity, and service — emphasizing that “St. Francis Caracciolo understood that true prayer is born from remaining before the Eucharist and allowing oneself to be transformed by the love of God.”
A particularly moving moment was the lighting of the votive oil in honor of the Saint, this year offered by the Chefs’ Association of the Marche Region, as a symbol of fraternity among chefs throughout Italy. Fr. Pierpaolo Ottone, C.R.M., blessed the lamp, recalling that “St. Francis walks spiritually beside every cook, in every kitchen, protecting their work and their families.”
Mayor Pino Finamore underlined the importance of the event for the identity of the local community: “The Chefs’ Festival is a moment of rebirth and unity. This year, many of our citizens who have become chefs around the world have returned home — a moving sign of belonging that honors Villa Santa Maria.”
The event also features the participation of the State Hotel and Catering School of Villa Santa Maria, a historic institution that has trained generations of chefs and now hosts, for the first time, a restaurant open to visitors during the festival.
Founded in the late 16th century by St. Francis Caracciolo (1563–1608) together with Giovanni Adorno and Fabrizio Caracciolo, the Order of the Clerics Regular Minor promotes Eucharistic adoration, fraternal life, and service to the poor. The Saint, who died at only 44 years of age, is remembered as a man of profound prayer and tireless charity, and since 1996 has been venerated as the Patron Saint of Italian Cooks, symbolically linking the Eucharistic table with the human table.
The Chefs’ Festival will continue in the coming days with tastings, cultural events, and moments of fraternity throughout the historic center, confirming Villa Santa Maria as the “Cradle of Cooks” and a living center of faith, culinary art, and local identity.