The Catholic Church has patron saints for almost everything, and
considering the status of world affairs in many minds, a little heavenly help would be of great advantage. At any rate St. Emerich has been a 'secondary patron saint' of the USA because of
Vespucci's first name Amerigo (Italian). This at least gives a
certain credence to the claim zmjezhd makes that America is from
Amerigo. The patron being assigned centuries ago.

----please, draw me a sheep----