Giovanni Leonardi

John Leonardi (* 1541 in Diecimo in Lucca, Italy, † October 9, 1609 in Rome, Italy) was Italian priest and founder of the order. He is regarded in the Catholic Church as a saint.

Leonardi, who worked as an assistant pharmacist before 1571 received ordination. In Lucca he took special care of the poor, sick, prisoners and young people. In 1574 he founded the Congregation of Clerks Regular of the Mother of God who devoted himself to the religious education of the locals. Was to support the religious education through him the foundation of the lay community society of Christian doctrine. Due to the rejection of his work in Lucca, he moved to Rome. There Leonardi was co-founder of Mission College Urbania. He also was involved in the construction of hospitals and schools. Commissioned by Pope Clement VIII, he reformed several orders and congregations. In his last years Leonardi worked as a popular preacher. He is ( in addition to the martyrs Cosmas and Damian ) is the official patron of pharmacists.

In 1861 he was beatified and in 1938 by Pope Pius XI. canonized.