Luigi Lenzini

After his ordination, Father Luigi Lenzini exercised various pastoral ministries in the Archdiocese of Modena-Nonantola. He was first a vicar in Casinalbo (Formigine) and then in Finale Emilia. He was subsequently appointed parish priest of Roncoscaglia (Sestola) from 1912 to 1921, and then of Montecuccolo (Pavullo nel Frignano) from 1921 to 1937. In 1938, desiring to deepen his spiritual life, he obtained permission to undertake a religious experience in Rome with the Clerics Regular Minor (Caracciolins), but his bishop quickly recalled him to the diocese to entrust him with the role of spiritual chaplain at the Gaiato sanatorium. On January 26, 1941, he was appointed parish priest of the Beata Vergine Assunta parish in Crocette, a small hamlet in the municipality of Pavullo nel Frignano with about 600 inhabitants. It was there that he would live out his final years of ministry in an extremely difficult context marked by the Second World War. During the conflict, Father Luigi showed himself to be close to all his parishioners without political distinction, providing material and spiritual aid to anyone in need, including partisans. However, he firmly opposed the totalitarian ideologies of fascism and communism, publicly explaining to his faithful why these doctrines are incompatible with the Catholic faith.

After the end of the war, the Emilia-Romagna region went through a period of violent political settling of scores, particularly in the area nicknamed the "Triangle of Death," where many priests and religious were targeted by communist militants. Due to his courageous stances in favor of evangelical truth and his opposition to atheistic materialism, Father Luigi Lenzini was the subject of repeated death threats. Aware of the danger, he refused to remain silent and declared during a homily: "I have been ordered to be silent, they want to kill me, but I must do my duty, even at the cost of my life." In the night of July 20 to 21, 1945, a group of former communist partisans appeared at the rectory of Crocette under the pretext of calling him to administer the last sacraments to a dying patient. Having already visited this patient during the day, the priest immediately understood that it was a trap. He locked the door and rushed to the bell tower to ring the tocsin to alert the inhabitants. However, for fear of reprisals, the parishioners did not dare to intervene while the assailants fired shots in the church square to intimidate the population. The attackers entered the rectory through a window using a ladder, captured the priest, and took him away by force. Father Luigi Lenzini was dragged into an isolated vineyard located about half a kilometer from the church. There, he was savagely tortured, beaten, and finally murdered with a blow to the head. His body was found on July 28, 1945, buried head down in the vineyard.

The cause for the beatification of Father Luigi Lenzini was officially opened at the diocesan level on June 8, 2011, by the Archbishop of Modena, Monsignor Antonio Lanfranchi. After the conclusion of the diocesan inquiry, the file was transmitted to Rome. On October 27, 2020, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the martyrdom of Father Luigi Lenzini, killed "in hatred of the faith" (in odium fidei). The beatification ceremony was celebrated on May 28, 2022, in the Piazza Grande in Modena. It was presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, representing Pope Francis. His liturgical memorial is set for July 21, the day of his birth into Heaven. His mortal remains have rested since 2002 in the parish church of Crocette.

Blessed Luigi Lenzini is honored as a pastor after the heart of Christ, who gave his life for truth and justice. During the Regina Caeli on May 29, 2022, Pope Francis honored his memory in these terms: "This priest, a pastor after the heart of Christ, a messenger of truth and justice, helps us from heaven to bear witness to the Gospel with charity and frankness." His sacrifice remains a powerful testimony of fidelity to the priestly ministry in the face of ideological violence and anti-religious hatred in post-war Italy.