Fire rips through historic Italian monastery

A massive blaze has torn through the historic Bernaga Monastery in La Valletta Brianza, about 30 kilometres east of Milan. The monastery, founded in 1628, was heavily damaged, with most of its artworks reportedly destroyed. All 22 cloistered nuns living there were safely evacuated without injuries, according to Italian media reports.

The monastery is well known as the place where Carlo Acutis — the first saint of the new millennium, canonized by Pope Leo XIV on September 7, 2025 — received his First Communion. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, though the mayor of Lecco said it may have been caused by a short circuit.