CAPILLA SAN BENITO DE PALERMO

The chapel was erected in 1761 by order of Pedro de Cevallos to support the Spanish troops. The chapel houses a statue of the Santo Negro, the first black saint of the Catholic Church. Saint Benedict of Palermo, also known as Benito Manasseri, was an Italian religious who was canonized in 1807 by Pope Benedict XIV. He was known for his tolerance of racial prejudice and wore the brown habit as a disciple of St. Francis of Assisi.