Francesco Lombardi
An Italian diocesan priest, Francesco Lombardi was the "priest of the earthquake" of Bussana, dedicating himself to the material and spiritual reconstruction of his parish after the 1887 disaster.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
Biography
The youth, formation, and priestly ordination of Francesco Lombardi.
Francesco Lombardi was born on February 24, 1851, in Terzorio, Italy. The first of thirteen children of Giambattista Lombardi and Giulia Ferrari, he grew up in a deeply Christian home where two of his brothers would also become priests. After a brief attempt at monastic life with the Benedictines of Subiaco in 1864, interrupted for health reasons, he continued his studies with the Lazarists in Sarzana and then with the Piarists in Savona. He entered the seminary of Ventimiglia in 1872 and was ordained a priest on September 19, 1874, by Bishop Giovanni Pietro Sola (or in 1875 by Bishop Raffaele Biale).
Life and work
His ministry in Bussana, his dedication during the 1887 earthquake, the construction of the sanctuary, and his social works.
Appointed parish priest of Bussana in 1877, Father Lombardi dedicated himself entirely to his parish. On February 23, 1887, a violent earthquake destroyed the village, claiming 54 victims. Father Lombardi spared no effort to assist the survivors and became the soul of the reconstruction in Bussana Nuova. There, he had the monumental basilica-sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus erected, which was consecrated in 1901. Inspired by the encyclical Rerum Novarum, he founded numerous social works: a nursery, a school, a refuge for the elderly, an orphanage, a mutual aid fund, and a parish printing press.
Journey toward holiness
His life of prayer, his death in 1922, and the opening of his cause for beatification.
Father Francesco Lombardi led a life of intense prayer, marked by Eucharistic adoration and the constant recitation of the Rosary. Exhausted by his ministry, he passed away in Bussana on February 12, 1922 (or February 13, according to local registers). His funeral attracted a vast crowd. In 1926, his remains were transferred to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, which he had built. The diocesan process for his beatification opened in 1953 and closed in 1971, paving the way for the Roman phase in 1972.
Beatification and canonization
The recognition of his heroic virtues by Pope Leo XIV in 2026.
On February 21, 2026, Pope Leo XIV authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Francesco Lombardi, following an audience granted to Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. By this decree, he is officially declared venerable.
Spirituality and legacy
His devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and his spiritual and social legacy in Bussana.
Don Lombardi's spirituality is centered on the love of the Heart of Jesus and summarized by his priestly motto: "Da mihi animas, cetera tolle". His legacy continues in Bussana through the Basilica-Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the memory of his heroic dedication as the "parish priest of the earthquake".
Frequently asked questions about Francesco Lombardi
Who was Francesco Lombardi?
An Italian diocesan priest, Francesco Lombardi was the "priest of the earthquake" of Bussana, dedicating himself to the material and spiritual reconstruction of his parish after the 1887 disaster.
Which saints were contemporaries of Francesco Lombardi?
Contemporaries include: Jesús María Echavarría Aguirre, Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Narcisa de Jesús and Juan de Jesús López y González.
When did Francesco Lombardi die?
Francesco Lombardi died around 1851.
What are the other names of Francesco Lombardi?
Other forms of the name: Don Francesco Lombardi.
Who are the relatives of Francesco Lombardi?
Relatives of Francesco Lombardi: Giambattista Lombardi (father), Giulia Ferrari (mother), Gio Batta Lombardi (brother) and Pietro Lombardi (brother).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Era / death: 1851-1922
- Decree of venerability in 2026 by Leo XIV
Quotes
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Da mihi animas, cetera tolle
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