Saint Charles Borromeo (1538–1584) was a cardinal and archbishop of Milan, a major figure in the Catholic Reformation initiated by the Council of Trent. He worked zealously to reform the Church, combat clerical corruption, and strengthen priestly training by founding seminaries. A close friend of the poor, he distinguished himself by his devotion during the plague in Milan in 1576, not hesitating to care for the sick himself. He was canonized in 1610 and remains an example of pastoral devotion and Church reform.
