Italian senate gives green light to bill ahead of 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assisi. The Italian parliament has voted to reinstate 4 October as a national public holiday, restoring the day off in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi after almost half a century. The Italian senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill launched by the centre-right Noi Moderati party after it was passed in the lower house last week with 247 votes in favour and just two against. The bill, backed by th...
