Blessed Francesco Spoto

Memorial

• 27 December

Profile

Priest. Member of the Congregation of Missionary Servants of the Poor. Chosen superior general of the Congregation in 1959. He re-vitalized the group, encouraging vocations, and leading missionaries to Biringi, Congo. Beaten by Simba rebels in the middle of the Congo civil war, he suffered for 11 days before dying from the injuries; he forgave his killers. Martyr.

Born

• 8 July 1924 in Raffadali, Agrigento, Italy

Died

• 27 December 1964 at Erira, Orientale (modern Democratic Republic of Congo) after having been attacked by Simba rebels on 11 December 1964

Venerated

• 26 June 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI

Beatified

• 21 April 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI
• recognition celebrated at Palermo, Sicily, officiated by Cardinal Salvatore de Giorgi

Canonized

• if you have information relevant to the canonization of Blessed Francesco, contact
     Missionari Servi dei Poveri
     Via Pindemonte, 1/E
     90129 Palermo, ITALY

Additional Information

• Kirken i Norge
• Santi e Beati
• Wikipedia

MLA Citation

• “Blessed Francesco Spoto“. Saints.SQPN.com. 6 April 2013. Web. 20 June 2013. <>