Giovanni Minzoni
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Minzoni was born to a middle-class family. He studied in seminary
and in 1909 was ordained priest
. The following year he was appointed Deputy Pastor in the town of Argenta
(in Emilia-Romagna
), which he left in 1912 to go to study in the Scuola Sociale in Bergamo
, where he was awarded his degree. Admired because of his courage and his determination to cooperate and talk with farmers, after the beginning of World War I
Father Minzoni was sent to the front between Italy
and Austro-Hungary as an army chaplain.
in August 1916, he asked to serve as a military chaplain
among the young soldiers at the Italian north-eastern front, and during a very critical moment in the battle of the river Piave
, he showed great courage for which he was awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valor
.
in 1923. This and many other episodes turned him against Fascism
. In addition to ideas about social rights
, he became increasingly convinced of the need for cooperation
, thus becoming an open enemy of the fascist regime
that strongly favored corporativism.
in Argenta, because he preferred to educate the young people of the town in the values of Catholicism
. After meeting Father Emilio Faggioli, the founder in April 1917 of the scout group Bologna I, and who became regional assistant for Catholic Scouts in Emilia-Romagna, Minzoni became convinced of the virtues and good values taught by the Scout Movement. He therefore decided to found a scout group
in his own parish.
"They will not be allowed into the main square," the fascist chief shouted. Then Fr Minzoni began to speak: "While I am here, they will go everywhere, even into the main square!" Deafening applause from seventy young men put an end to the diatribe. The seventy members of the Catholic Scouts in Argenta were a reality, and the menaces coming from the local fascist chief did not alarm them.
establishment, Father Minzoni was killed around 10:30 pm on August 23 1923 by two fascist "squadristi", who smashed his skull with a club; they were following orders of the local "Console di Milizia" Italo Balbo
, who was so shaken by the scandal that he had to resign temporarily from his post.
Just before his death, Don Minzoni wrote:
His death turned his prayer into reality, with a promise made before departing for WWI:
, and their secret instigator (Italo Balbo
), later absolved at trial due to interference and pressure from the fascist squads and media.
A new trial was held after the end of World War II
, when the fascists were no longer able to threaten and cover up the truth.
After the war, Giovanni Minzoni became a symbol of the Italian Catholic
Resistance
, and many books were written about the martyrdom of this lesser parish priest, widely known for his courage and sanctity.
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
and in 1909 was ordained priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. The following year he was appointed Deputy Pastor in the town of Argenta
Argenta, Italy
Argenta is a town and comune in the province of Ferrara, Emilia–Romagna, north east Italy. It is located about 30 km southeast of Ferrara, and midway between Ferrara and Ravenna.-Geography:...
(in Emilia-Romagna
Romagna
Romagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
), which he left in 1912 to go to study in the Scuola Sociale in Bergamo
Bergamo
Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
, where he was awarded his degree. Admired because of his courage and his determination to cooperate and talk with farmers, after the beginning of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Father Minzoni was sent to the front between Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Austro-Hungary as an army chaplain.
World War I
Called up by the army of the Kingdom of ItalyKingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
in August 1916, he asked to serve as a military chaplain
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
among the young soldiers at the Italian north-eastern front, and during a very critical moment in the battle of the river Piave
Piave
Piave can refer to:* Francesco Maria Piave, Italian librettist and composer* Piave * Piave * Battle of the Piave River* 10 Motorised Division Piave An Italian division of World War II...
, he showed great courage for which he was awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valor
Silver Medal of Military Valor
The Silver Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.Italian medals for valor were first instituted by Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia on May 21, 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, a silver medal...
.
Campaign for social rights after WWI
At the end of World War I, Fr Minzoni returned to Argenta, where he joined the Christian Party (Partito Popolare Italiano). Even if this was a semi-conservative party, he became friends with the socialist labor union leader Natale Gaiba, who was assassinated by the blackshirtsBlackshirts
The Blackshirts were Fascist paramilitary groups in Italy during the period immediately following World War I and until the end of World War II...
in 1923. This and many other episodes turned him against Fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
. In addition to ideas about social rights
Social rights
Economic, social and cultural rights are socio-economic human rights, such as the right to education, right to housing, right to adequate standard of living and the right to health. Economic, social and cultural rights are recognised and protected in international and regional human rights...
, he became increasingly convinced of the need for cooperation
Cooperation
Cooperation or co-operation is the process of working or acting together. In its simplest form it involves things working in harmony, side by side, while in its more complicated forms, it can involve something as complex as the inner workings of a human being or even the social patterns of a...
, thus becoming an open enemy of the fascist regime
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
that strongly favored corporativism.
Antifascism
After some time Giovanni Minzoni rejected the introduction of the fascist youth movement, the Opera Nazionale BalillaOpera Nazionale Balilla
thumb|240px|A young balilla in [[Piazza Venezia]].Opera Nazionale Balilla was an Italian Fascist youth organization functioning, as an addition to school education, between 1926 and 1937 .It was named after Balilla, the moniker of Giovan Battista Perasso,...
in Argenta, because he preferred to educate the young people of the town in the values of Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
. After meeting Father Emilio Faggioli, the founder in April 1917 of the scout group Bologna I, and who became regional assistant for Catholic Scouts in Emilia-Romagna, Minzoni became convinced of the virtues and good values taught by the Scout Movement. He therefore decided to found a scout group
Scout Group
The Scout Group is the local organisation for Scouting in most countries where it is active. It combines together the different sections into a single body. Scout Groups can consist of any number of sections in the different Age Groups in Scouting and Guiding...
in his own parish.
Scout movement in Argenta
On July 8 1923, Fr Emilio Faggioli was invited to the parish hall in Argenta to give a lecture on the educative value of scouting. Fagioli said, "Through this practice and discipline of the will and body, we aim to shape men with a strong temperament." Among those attending the lecture was the Fascist Party Secretary in Argenta, who shouted "But we already have Mussolini!". Monsignor Faggioli ignored him, and started speaking again, explaining to those present that scouting acts outside any political faction. "From now on, you will see young scouts along your roads with their big hats and a lily over their hearts. Please, look kindly on these young men walking and singing in the main square in Argenta.""They will not be allowed into the main square," the fascist chief shouted. Then Fr Minzoni began to speak: "While I am here, they will go everywhere, even into the main square!" Deafening applause from seventy young men put an end to the diatribe. The seventy members of the Catholic Scouts in Argenta were a reality, and the menaces coming from the local fascist chief did not alarm them.
Death of Giovanni Minzoni
Increasingly in conflict with the local MussolinianBenito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
establishment, Father Minzoni was killed around 10:30 pm on August 23 1923 by two fascist "squadristi", who smashed his skull with a club; they were following orders of the local "Console di Milizia" Italo Balbo
Italo Balbo
Italo Balbo was an Italian Blackshirt leader who served as Italy's Marshal of the Air Force , Governor-General of Libya, Commander-in-Chief of Italian North Africa , and the "heir apparent" to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.After serving in...
, who was so shaken by the scandal that he had to resign temporarily from his post.
Just before his death, Don Minzoni wrote:
His death turned his prayer into reality, with a promise made before departing for WWI:
Echoes in the Italian press
After receiving news about the murder of Don Minzoni, Italian newspapers, :it:Il Popolo and :it:La Voce Repubblicana, still partly free in 1923 extensively covered the murder, and soon disclosed all the direct executors of the fascist murderMurder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, and their secret instigator (Italo Balbo
Italo Balbo
Italo Balbo was an Italian Blackshirt leader who served as Italy's Marshal of the Air Force , Governor-General of Libya, Commander-in-Chief of Italian North Africa , and the "heir apparent" to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.After serving in...
), later absolved at trial due to interference and pressure from the fascist squads and media.
A new trial was held after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when the fascists were no longer able to threaten and cover up the truth.
After the war, Giovanni Minzoni became a symbol of the Italian Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Resistance
Resistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
, and many books were written about the martyrdom of this lesser parish priest, widely known for his courage and sanctity.
Letter to Archbishop of Ravenna by John Paul II
In Italian
- Lorenzo Bedeschi, Diario di Don Minzoni, (1965).
- Nicola Palumbi, Don Giovanni Minzoni. Educatore e martire, Milan 2003.
See also
- Censorship under fascist regimes
- Freedom of the press in the Kingdom of Italy