Pietro Gambacorta (15 February 1355 - 17 June 1435) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and the co-founder of the Poor Hermits of St. Jerome.[1] He was a professed religious from the Third Order of Saint Francis and co-founded his order in Rome alongside Nicola da Forca Palena.[2] Pope Innocent XII beatified him on 9 November 1693.
Life
Pietro Gambacorta was born in the Republic of Pisa in 1355, the son of a government official and the brother of Chiara Gambacorti. His brothers were Lorenzo and Benedetto. His father and brothers were all killed on 21 October 1392.[1]
At age 22, he experienced a sudden conversion and decided to become a beggar. In 1380, he left home in favor of leading a life of begging and one of hermitage on Monte Cessano in the Umbria province, while also becoming a professed member of the Third Order of Saint Francis.[2] He once converted a band of thieves to the faith and also rallied them to his life of hermitage, which laid the foundations to the Poor Hermits of Saint Jerome that he himself designed. These twelve thieves repented when they saw his austerity and piety. Pope Urban VI approved the rule for his hermitage while he was in Umbria. He co-established the order in Rome on a visit alongside Nicola da Forca Palena.[1][2]
Pietro Gambacorta’s congregation received papal approval under Martin V in 1420 and later further papal confirmation under Eugene IV.[3][4] Its early monastery was at Montebello near Isola del Piano, Marche.[3][4] Gambacorta died on 17 June 1435 in Venice, and the order was suppressed under Pius XI in 1933; his remains are in the church of Saint Jerome in Venice.[3][4]
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3]"Blessed Peter Gambacorta". Saints SQPN. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
- 2.[2.2][2.3]"Peter of Gambacorta". Roman Catholic Saints. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
- 3.[3.2][3.3]"GAMBACORTA, Pietro - Enciclopedia". Treccani (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-04-21.
- 4.[4.2][4.3]"Beato Pietro Gambacorta". Santiebeati.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-04-21.