A small piece of matzah baked for the 1944 Passover, discovered among the belongings of an Italian priest, remains a testament to his efforts to hide two Jewish families during the Holocaust. Gaetano Tantalo, a presbyter based in Tagliacozzo, risked his life to provide sanctuary to the Orvieto and Pacifici families within his own rectory.
Early Life and Education
Born in Villavallelonga on 3 February 1905, Tantalo experienced significant hardship as a child, including surviving a lime pit accident at age six and suffering injuries during the 1915 Marsican earthquake. Following the death of his father in World War I, he pursued ecclesiastical studies in Tagliacozzo and Avezzano. He was ordained as a priest on 10 August 1930.
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Tantalo served as a professor of mathematics, Italian, Latin, and ancient Greek at a diocesan seminary before moving to parish work. In 1936, he became rector of St. Peter in the Altolaterra neighborhood of Tagliacozzo. He was known for his dedication to children from impoverished backgrounds, whom he referred to as snowdrops, often providing them and their families with quiet financial support.
Wartime Shelter and Protection
When Italian forces surrendered in September 1943, the Orvieto and Pacifici families sought refuge from Nazi deportations. Tantalo hosted them in his rectory for nine months, introducing them to neighbors as relatives. He supported their religious observances by providing Bibles, greeting them with Shabbat Shalom, and assisting in the preparation of ingredients for Jewish holidays.
Resistance and Final Years
During a punitive Nazi raid in June 1944, Tantalo volunteered as a hostage to prevent the execution of local residents. The occupiers declined his offer, and the situation resolved when Allied forces pushed the Nazis out of Tagliacozzo. After the war, Tantalo suffered from bronchial pneumonia. Despite receiving medical assistance in Rome funded by those he had protected, he died on 13 November 1947.
Fast facts
- Born: 3 February 1905, Villavallelonga
- Died: 13 November 1947, Tagliacozzo
- Occupation: Presbyter
- Award: Righteous Among the Nations, 1978
- Known for: Saving the Orvieto and Pacifici families
- Burial place: Saints Leucio and Nicholas, Villavallelonga
Questions readers ask
What recognition did he receive for his actions during the Holocaust?
In 1978, Yad Vashem designated him as one of the Righteous Among the Nations.
Where are his remains located today?
Following his death in 1947 and several reinterments, his remains were transferred to the parish church of Saints Leucio and Nicholas in Villavallelonga in 1980.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1978
- Worked as presbyter
