Peregrine Laziosi

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Peregrine Laziosi
Filippo Lippi, Presentation of the Temple, with St. Philip Benizi on the left and St. Peregrine Laziosi on the right.
Confessor
Born	around 1260, Forlì, Italy
Died	May 1, 1345
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Canonized	December 27, 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII
Feast	May 4
Attributes	one leg covered in a cancerous sore, a staff
Patronage	cancer patients, AIDS, the sick
Saints Portal

Saint Peregrine (Pellegrino) Laziosi (Latiosi) (1265 - 1 May 1345) is an Italian saint. He is the patron saint for persons suffering from cancer, AIDS and other serious diseases, according to the Catholic Church.

He was born in Forlì, northern Italy, of a wealthy family. He was not a religious man until an incident with Philip Benizi. Peregrine is said to have hit Philip, who then turned the other cheek and did not fight back. Peregrine was so moved by this action that he converted to Catholicism, which he had formerly opposed.

Peregrine had cancer of the foot. Doctors prepared to amputate his foot, but after Peregrine prayed, his foot was completely healed. He is therefore considered the patron saint of cancer victims.