Pietro Leoni
Encyclopedia
Pietro Leoni was a Jesuit priest
from Italy
who later worked in the Soviet Union
. He was born in Italy
and educated at the Russicum, a Jesuit seminary
established to prepare Catholic
priests for missionary work in Russia
. In 1941 Leoni went along with an Italian regiment aiding the German invasion of the USSR. In 1943 he was released from service as the Italian army disintegrated and he decided to stay on as a priest in Odessa
. On April 29, 1945 he was arrested for counter-revolutionary activity for which was sentenced to 25 years in forced labor camps but was released in 1955 through intervention of the Vatican
. Following his return to the West, Leoni served as pastor of the Russian Catholic community in Montreal
, where he died on July 26, 1995.
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...
from 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...
who later worked in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. He was born in 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 educated at the Russicum, a Jesuit seminary
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...
established to prepare 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"...
priests for missionary work in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. In 1941 Leoni went along with an Italian regiment aiding the German invasion of the USSR. In 1943 he was released from service as the Italian army disintegrated and he decided to stay on as a priest in Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
. On April 29, 1945 he was arrested for counter-revolutionary activity for which was sentenced to 25 years in forced labor camps but was released in 1955 through intervention of the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. Following his return to the West, Leoni served as pastor of the Russian Catholic community in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, where he died on July 26, 1995.