The Italian presbyter Gaetano Piccinini, born in Avezzano in 1904, spent his career within the Don Orione Congregation. While his primary vocation involved religious service throughout Rome and the Latium region, his legacy shifted significantly decades after his death in 1972, following his inclusion in the list of Righteous Among the Nations.
Religious Training and Vocation
Piccinini attained his formal education at the University of Turin before serving the Latin Church as a priest. His religious career remained tethered to the Don Orione Congregation, facilitating his activity across central Italy. As a presbyter, he fulfilled his duties within the institutional hierarchy of the church, moving through various religious assignments in the capital and surrounding areas until his passing in Rome.
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During the Nazi roundup in the Roman ghetto, Piccinini provided refuge to Bruno Camerini, along with his mother and sisters. By hosting these individuals within various religious properties under his administration, he shielded them from deportation. Testimony regarding these events indicates that he prioritized the safety of those in hiding while strictly respecting their Jewish faith. One individual he sheltered recalls witnessing the departure of a train to the Auschwitz concentration camp on October 18, 1943, from a location provided by the priest.
Posthumous Recognition
In 2009, Yad Vashem officially awarded Piccinini the title of Righteous Among the Nations. This recognition, formalized during a ceremony in Rome, acknowledged that his efforts were not isolated actions but part of a broader network of support. Mordechay Lewy, who served as the Ambassador of Israel to the Holy See, noted that such initiatives involved institutional coordination beyond individual effort. The record of his life remains defined by this specific humanitarian contribution, as confirmed by official entries in Jerusalem.
Fast facts
- Born: 1904, Avezzano
- Died: 1972, Rome
- Occupation: Presbyter
- Education: University of Turin
- Affiliation: Don Orione Congregation
- Recognition: Righteous Among the Nations (2009)
Questions readers ask
What specific honor did Gaetano Piccinini receive?
He was posthumously named one of the Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 2009.
Where did Piccinini perform his religious work?
He was active in religious service throughout Rome and the Latium region.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 2009
- Worked as presbyter
- Educated at University of Turin
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