Edward Focherini
| Blessed Edward Focherini | |
|---|---|
| Journalist, Martyr | |
| Born | 6 June 1907 Carpi, Modena, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 27 December 1944 Hersbruck concentration camp, Germany |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 15 June 2013, Modena, Italy by Cardinal Angelo Amato |
| Feast | 27 December |
Blessed Edward Focherini (6 June 1907 - 27 December 1944) was an Italian who issued false documents to Jewish people to escape the Nazi regime. He was arrested and sent to a concentration camp. He died there in 1944 and Yad Vashem recognized him as a Righteous Among the Nations in 1969 for his efforts. He is seen as a martyr in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church and was beatified in 2013.
Biography
Focherini was born in 1907 in Modena. He was married and had seven children and became a journalist. At the time of World War II and the Holocaust, he issued fake documentation to Jewish people so that they could escape to neutral Switzerland. The Nazi regime discovered this, and ultimately arrested him and sent him to a concentration camp in Hersbruck where he later died in 1944.[1]
In 1969, Yad Vashem recognized his heroic efforts during the war in saving many Jews and awarded him the title of Righteous Among the Nations.[2]
Beatification
Pope Benedict XVI recognized his martyrdom in a decree on 10 May 2012 which paved the way for his beatification on 15 June 2013 in Modena. It was celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, on behalf of Pope Francis.
References
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- ↑ Edward Focherini - his activity to save Jews' lives during the Holocaust, at Yad Vashem website
