Italy celebrates the feast day of St Anthony Abbot, the patron saint and protector of animals, on Friday 17 January 2020. Each year an open air stable is assembled by the Italian Association of Livestock Farmers (AIA) at Piazza Pio XII in front of St Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

This traditional exhibition of animals, which includes horses, cows, sheep, goats and hens, as well as dogs, takes place from 09.00 until about 14.00 and is open to all. At 10.30 a Mass will be celebrated for the farmers and their families by the Archpriest of St Peter’s, Cardinal Angelo Comastri, who later imparts a blessing on the animals present.