CARCANO, MICHELE. — Born in Milan in 1427, died in Lodi on 20 March 1484. While still a child, he was a regular listener, together with his father Donato (ducal councillor), to s. Bernardino da Siena when he preached in Milan. Attracted by the Saint, having already completed the trivium and quadrivium, in the flower of his youth he entered the Friars Minor at the convent of S. Croce in Como, where he soon distinguished himself for virtue and theological learning. A preacher at the age of 24, he travelled throughout Italy and Palestine (1440–84), evangelizing with the effectiveness of his extraordinary eloquence. Milan, Mantua, Brescia, Bergamo, Padua, Venice, Piacenza, Bologna, Siena, Florence, Trent, Rome, and other cities admired him as a resurrected s. Paul, as attested, among others, by b. Bernardino da Feltre. Even the largest cathedrals were not large enough to contain the immense crowds that flocked to hear him, so that he was often obliged to preach in public squares. He possessed the gift from God of persuading and moving his listeners to tears. Thus he caused Christian and civic life to flourish again everywhere, and in 1462 induced the city of Perugia to establish the first Monte di Pietà, offering pledges at a modest rate of interest; an example later followed, through his efforts, by Bologna and Padua. In Milan, Como, and Piacenza he persuaded the citizens to consolidate the many hospitals, which were no longer sufficient for the multitude of sufferers, into a single institution. Venice and Crema erected hospitals at his urging. Appointed nuncio of the Crusade by Pius II and Sixtus IV, he preached in the Duchy of Milan and in that of Venice.
Provincial of the Milanese Observance, he brought renewal to the Minorite cloisters, the monasteries of the Poor Clares, and the Third Order; in Milan he promoted the establishment of the «Pious Consortium of Charity».
His apostolic frankness twice cost him exile from Milan (1472–75), and, after being recalled, he continued his restorative work even at the ducal court. He was a source of comfort to the deposed duchess Bona of Savoy, just as he had previously been spiritual director to Duchess Bianca Maria Visconti.
He died while preaching in Lodi; venerated as blessed, he became the instrument of graces and miracles at his tomb. His name appears in the Martyrologium franciscanum (Rome 1938, p. 140) on 20 March. The writers of his time and the contemporary records of the communes and states of Italy bear witness to his remarkable activity. The cause for confirmation of his cult is in progress.