Historic Bernaga Monastery in Italy Devastated by Fire: 22 Nuns Evacuated Safely but Priceless Artifacts Lost

A devastating fire has swept through the historic Bernaga Monastery in northern Italy, according to reports from the Italian fire service on Sunday. The blaze necessitated the evacuation of 22 cloistered nuns from the premises.

The Bernaga Monastery, established in 1628 and located in La Valletta Brianza near Milan, holds significant religious importance as the site where Carlo Acutis, recently canonized as the Catholic Church's first millennial saint, received his First Communion.

The fire ignited on Saturday and rapidly consumed the entire structure, as evidenced by nighttime footage shared by the fire brigade on social media platform X.

While all 22 nuns were safely evacuated without any injuries, Italian media sources report that numerous irreplaceable artworks and historical artifacts are believed to have been destroyed in the conflagration.

La Valletta Brianza's mayor, Marco Panzeri, described the incident to local media as "a disaster, an immense, incalculable damage." According to preliminary assessments, the fire may have originated from an electrical short circuit.

Carlo Acutis was officially elevated to sainthood on September 7, 2025, during a ceremony conducted by Pope Leo XIV. In Catholic tradition, the First Communion, typically received between ages 7 and 11, represents a significant milestone in a child's spiritual journey within the Church.