March 02

Born in Verona in 1662, Francesco Bianchini served as librarian to Pope Clement XI and conducted precise astronomical studies. He constructed the Clementine meridian line in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli to measure Earth's orbit. Bianchini published detailed treatises on comets, star positions, and ancient chronology. His interdisciplinary work spanned archaeology, cosmography, and philosophy. His observations and methods influenced later astronomers and helped refine timekeeping and celestial mapping techniques. Bianchini's legacy endures in the field of observational astronomy and the history of science.

Benoît Lacroix (1915–2016) was a Canadian Dominican priest, historian, and philosopher renowned for his scholarship on medieval spirituality. After joining the Dominican Order, he earned a doctorate in theology and began teaching at Université Laval. Lacroix published over fifty books and hundreds of articles on medieval philosophy, mysticism, and monastic history. He founded the Centre d'Études du Patrimoine at Laval, fostering interdisciplinary research and dialogue. Awarded the Order of Canada and the National Order of Quebec, he bridged the worlds of faith and academia throughout his long career.