Who was St. Gianna Beretta Molla?
St. Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian pediatrician, wife, and mother. She was a devout Catholic who balanced her career in medicine with a deep commitment to her family and faith.
While pregnant with her fourth child, St. Gianna was diagnosed with a tumor in her uterus. Given medical options that could have endangered her unborn child, she chose to prioritize her baby’s life, undergoing only the minimum treatment necessary to preserve both lives. After giving birth to her daughter, Gianna Emanuela, she developed a severe infection and passed away a week later at the age of 39.
St. Gianna was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2004, becoming a patron saint of mothers, physicians, and the pro-life movement. Her life is a testimony to self-sacrificial love, the dignity of human life, and faith in God's will.