Chiara Badano, affectionately known as "Chiara Luce," was born on October 29, 1971, in Sassello, Italy. From a young age, she exhibited a deep faith and a generous spirit, joining the Focolare Movement at age nine, where she embraced its spirituality of unity and love. Chiara was known for her vibrant personality, athleticism, and strong friendships.

At 17, while playing tennis, Chiara experienced a sharp pain in her shoulder, leading to the diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. Throughout her illness, she maintained an unwavering faith, often offering her suffering to Jesus and refusing morphine to remain lucid, stating, "It reduces my lucidity, and there's only one thing I can do now: to offer my suffering to Jesus because I want to share as much as possible in his sufferings on the cross." Her joyful acceptance of suffering and concern for others, even amidst her pain, inspired many around her.

Chiara passed away on October 7, 1990, at the age of 18. Her beatification process began in 1999, and she was declared "Blessed" on September 25, 2010, by Pope Benedict XVI. During the beatification ceremony, Cardinal Angelo Amato read a message from the Pope, highlighting Chiara's example: "Only Love with a capital 'L' gives true happiness." Chiara's life continues to be a beacon for young people, demonstrating that holiness is attainable through everyday faith and love.