Italian seminarian, martyred by Communists, beatified

October 07, 2013

Rolando Rivi (1931-45), a seminarian who was kidnapped, beaten for three days, and killed by Italian Communists, was beatified as a martyr at the sports stadium in the north-central Italian city of Modena on October 5.

Cardinal Angelo Amato, the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, presided at the Mass of beatification, which 5,500 attended, according to La Nuova Prima Pagina, a local newspaper.

Blessed Rivi was “guilty only of wearing a cassock in that period of violence unleashed against the clergy,” Pope Francis said following his October 6 Angelus address. “Let us thank God for this young martyr, a heroic witness of the Gospel. And how many youth of 14 years today have before their eyes this example: a courageous youth who knew where he was going, who knew the love of Jesus in his heart and gave his life for Him. A fine example for the youth!”

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Finalmente oggi Rolando Rivi sarà Beato (La Nuova Prima Pagina, p. 8)
• Rolando Rivi: The testimony of the bloodied cassock (Clerus.org)
• Beato Rolando Rivi
• Pope Francis: Angelus address (10/6/13)