Italian bishop Francesco Galloni dedicates his life to the poor and orphans of Bulgaria

A humble military chaplain made his first contact with Bulgaria in 1921, arriving with the mission of searching for Italian soldiers who had disappeared without a trace during World War I. However, he did not remain indifferent to the fate of this small Balkan country. He lived here until 1949, when the communist government severed relations with the Vatican.

The name of this Catholic priest was Francesco Galloni – the last nuncio in Bulgaria before an atheistic regime was established here.

"This man played an important role in the life of the Catholic church in Bulgaria," says Father Paolo Cortesi, parish priest in the town of Belene on the Danube River. "As a young priest, he participated with the Alpine army in the battles in Northern Italy against Austria-Hungary and took care of the wounded soldiers. Surviving this tragedy, he decided to dedicate his life, on the one hand, to the victims of the wars, and on the other, to the orphans of these same soldiers and their widows. He arrived in Bulgaria to collect the remains of over 200 deceased Italians, captured by the Austro-Hungarian army and sent to the country, who are currently buried in the Sofia Central Cemeteries."

During the first years of his stay, Francesco Galloni contacted the Bulgarian Eucharistic Sisters, who cared for orphans and families in need. He often traveled to Italy to gain sympathy for the situation in Bulgaria and, with the donations collected, to help orphaned children and refugees from Greece and Macedonia. In 1925, his cause was personally supported by Monsignor Angelo Roncalli. The future Pope John XXIII blessed the first stone of the Opera Italiana Pro Oriente Institute, founded by the Italian priest on Oborishte Street No. 5 in the capital Sofia.

Monsignor Roncalli and his apostolic mission to Bulgaria

The laying of the foundation stone of the building of the Opera Italiana Pro Oriente institute, June 1925

"The activity of this institute was primarily to provide shelter to the many orphans in Sofia and to educate them," says Paolo Cortesi. "To this work, Francesco Galloni also included a school in which many children of Italian diplomats, military personnel, businessmen, and merchants studied, since at that time the Italian colony was very strong. Queen Joanna herself, who knew the priest, supported his work. He also founded an order of Bulgarian nuns dedicated to the Annunciation of the Lord. Many young girls from it worked in the orphanage both in Sofia and in Macedonia."

The building of the Opera Italiana pro Oriente Institute in Sofia in 1928

The coming to power of the communists in 1944 coincides with the exile of Francesco Galloni in his homeland - between 1943 and 1945 he was declared an enemy and interned, as he had collaborated with the regime of Benito Mussolini. In fact, by maintaining contacts with senior politicians and ministers, the Italian cleric managed to "extract" a lot of funds for his philanthropic activities in Bulgaria. Thus, after a two-year forced stay in Italy, he returned to Bulgaria and headed the Apostolic Delegation (today's nunciature) in an attempt to preserve relations between the Vatican and the new government. During a trip abroad in 1949, however, he was denied re-entry into the country and he left Bulgaria forever.

"The new leaders of Bulgaria, driven by atheistic ideology and a desire to free Bulgaria from foreign agents - among them Catholics, because the sick minds of these leaders saw enemies in all foreign churches and foreigners - began repressions, confiscations of property, bans", adds Paolo Cortesi.

"The Opera Italiana Pro Oriente Institute with its orphanage and school was confiscated and closed, all foreign clergy - Italians, Germans, Poles, were already expelled from the country, and in 1952 the Bulgarian priests and bishops were arrested and convicted. Among them was Monsignor Evgeniy Bosilkov from Belene, who, together with three other priests, was shot, and the rest were sent to camps and prisons. Monsignor Ivan Romanov from Plovdiv, for example, died in the Shumen prison, while many others remained behind bars until 1965."

Fr Paolo Cortesi: Blessed Eugene Bosilkov and other priests martyrs were Enlighteners who lived in faith

Bulgarian Bishop Evgeniy Bosilkov, who became a true pillar of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria after the cessation of relations with the Vatican, met Francesco Galloni in the 1930s. Then both were ordinary priests, in the words of Father Paolo Cortesi:

"When Bosilkov later became a bishop, he maintained official correspondence with Galloni as the person responsible for the Apostolic Delegation in Sofia - for all the problems, confiscations, bans. Through the Vatican's advice, they tried to maintain good relations with the authorities, even though on the other side the tension had advanced to the point of total destruction of the Catholic Church. In the documents of the Commission on Secret Agents Files, I read how in all the accusations against Bosilkov and the other priests, Monsignor Galloni was always mentioned as the head of the Vatican's spy network in Bulgaria. The two were under the surveillance of State Security agents and their every meeting was documented. Whenever Monsignor Boleslav was questioned, he was asked: "What did you say to Monsignor Galloni, what orders did Monsignor Galloni give you, what money did Monsignor Galloni reward you with?" That is why there is this connection between them."

Although far from Bulgaria, Monsignor Francesco Galloni managed even during the Cold War to work to maintain spiritual contact between his homeland and his beloved country. Proof of this fact is the sending of Bulgarian students in the ecclesiastic seminary to Italy in 1986.

"Years ago I had the pleasure of visiting the place in Northern Italy where Francesco Galloni was buried in 1976," Paolo Cortesi continues his story. "His grave in Velo d'Astico still has many visitors to this day. During his lifetime, he sheltered nuns expelled from Sofia in the village. It is there that Sister Gabriela Bosilkova, a niece of Monsignor Bosilkov, is buried, as well as other Bulgarian nuns."

Paolo Cortesi fondly remembers the "Bulgarian cave" he saw in Velo d'Astico. On one of his trips to his birthplace, Francesco Galloni took with him wooden figurines dressed in Bulgarian folk costumes. "During these years, he also sheltered many Bulgarians who passed through Italy, and he always carried Bulgaria in his heart," the priest added.

With his deeds, Monsignor Galloni left a living mark and is revered to this day. On the 30th anniversary of his death, the Italian Bishop Lovato uttered the words that are valid in our time: "The work of Francesco Galloni is still relevant today, and Europe can find strength in unity - in the name of truth, peace and justice, so desired by him."

"The deed of Monsignor Galloni should be the work of the church, of all people of good will, that is, to take care of the oppressed, the poor, the orphans, to dedicate himself to the education of the younger generations, to have friendship", believes Paolo Cortesi. "This work is contemporary, but also eternal, despite the different times. The big heart of Father Francesco and his work shows us that there are situations that not only touch us, but also make us act in collaboration. And Monsignor Galloni worked with both Orthodox Christians and Muslims and intrigued all people whose hearts dictated to help those in need and to take care of the upbringing of children."

In Francesco Galloni's town, nuns live, there is a kindergarten and a home for the elderly. There are also his Bulgarian library, the "Bulgarian cave", and paintings from Bulgaria.

"Everything in Velo d'Astico is dedicated to Monsignor Galloni. If you have the opportunity, go there as a pilgrim to the grave of this man. I think it would be nice," urges Paolo Cortesi.

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Photos: private archive, stara-sofia.com, Facebook /Gruppo Alpini Velo d'Astico

English publication: Rositsa Petkova