ASenate panel on Wednesday approved re-instituting a national holiday for St Francis of Assisi, one of Italy's two national saints along with St Catherine of Siena, on his feast day of October 4, making it law.

Since he law has yet to published in the Official Gazette, the first time the holiday will be celebrated will be next year.

The feast day of St Francis had been a public holiday until it was abolished in 1977.