Catherine was born in Siena, the daughter of a wealthy wool dyer, Giacomo Benincasa. In adolescence, she was drawn to prayer and solitude, and became a problem for her mother, by resisting any suggestion either of marriage or of becoming a nun. A compromise was reached when she joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic at the age of 16. Catherine convinced Pope Gregory XI to leave Avignon in 1376, and to return the papacy to Rome. She lived only 33 years, but her influence was exceptional. Her writings, including over 400 letters, earned for her from Pope Paul VI in 1970, the title of Doctor of the Church. (MTR) Photo by Marcio Chagas on Unsplash

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