The fire hit the Bernaga Monastery in La Valletta Brianza, a small town near Milan, according to the BBC. Firefighters rushed to the scene, but by the time the flames were put out, much of the roof was gone and parts of the structure had collapsed. Two of the nuns were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, while the rest were moved to another religious home nearby.
Regional councilor Massimo Sertori said on Facebook that there was “serious damage to the structure where premium paintings were kept,” adding that some valuable artwork and religious artifacts are likely lost forever. Sertori suggested the fire may have started from “a short circuit from one of the cells of the Ambrosian monks living there.”
The Bernaga Monastery, built in 1628, is a site of deep religious importance for many Catholics, especially in Italy. It’s where Saint Carlo Acutis—known around the world as the “first millennial saint”—received his First Communion, per the New York Post.
Local mayor Marco Panzeri called the fire “a disaster” and said the damage was “immense and incalculable.” Photos shared online show the roof completely destroyed and smoke still rising from the historic walls.
Acutis, who was canonized on September 7, died of leukemia at just 15 years old in 2006. He became known for using his computer skills to create a website documenting miracles, earning him the nickname “God’s Influencer.”
His family has described him as a kind, joyful boy who loved soccer and cartoons like Pokemon and The Simpsons.
Authorities are still investigating what caused the blaze, while experts work to assess how much of the monastery and its priceless contents can be saved.
