Monsignor Enrico Manfredini

On 16 December 1983 Monsignor Enrico Manfredini died suddenly in Bologna.
Our Africa Mission Cooperation and Development Movement is one of the branches of that luxuriant plant that Monsignor Manfredini sowed in the hearts of the people and in the social and ecclesial fabric of the communities he served as parish priest, as bishop and as archbishop.

We want to remember him on the 40th anniversary of his death to pay homage to the greatness of his human and Christian figure, but above all to thank him for the strength and clarity with which he testified to his love for Christ and for the Church.
 
LIFE
Enrico Manfredini was born in Suzzara (Mantua) on 20 January 1922. With his family he moved to Milan at a very young age and in 1934 he entered the seminary where he met Don Luigi Giussani, who would found Communion and liberation: with him Manfredini shared a passion for Christ and a profound friendship that will last a lifetime. He was ordained a priest on 26 May 1945. Deputy parish priest in Monza and then in Lambrate, he graduated in philosophy from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in 1951. Diocesan assistant of the men of Catholic Action until 1958, he was then archbishop's delegate for Catholic Action.

PARIS HEARER AT THE COUNCIL

In 1963 Cardinal Montini appointed Manfredini provost of San Vittore in Varese. In this capacity he was admitted to the Second Vatican Council, as ''hearer parish priest'': for Don Enrico it was an opportunity to get to know the bishops of Uganda and the ordeal of that country and discover the missionary Church, internalizing its value. From that moment his gaze on the ''particular Church'' also changed, no longer limited by the administrative boundaries of a parish or diocese, but open to the world.

Don Enrico brought the same pastoral ardor to Varese when in 1962 he was appointed provost of the basilica of San Vittore. Even today in Varese, various organizations involved in social and pastoral work are active and operational and were born thanks to his passion, including the Perpetual Adoration initiative held in the church of San Giuseppe.

WITH PAUL VI IN UGANDA

On 31 July 1969 Pope Paul VI decides that Don Enrico should accompany him on his trip to Uganda: it is the first trip of a pope to Africa.

On 4 October 1969 Paul VI appointed him bishop of Piacenza: the ceremony presided over by Cardinal Colombo took place on 4 November in the sports hall of Varese in the presence of 5000 people, 17 bishops (including the Ugandans Monsignor Asili and Monsignor Kihagire who wanted to alongside him in the entrance procession) and 72 priests.
PASSIONATE BISHOP
A passionate bishop arrives in Piacenza, who has gained important pastoral experiences at the parish level but also at the level of the universal Church and brings from Varese a lay collaborator, Vittorio Pastori, to whom he entrusts the role of diocesan and seminary bursar (perhaps the first case in Italy of a lay administrator in a diocese). 
Monsignor Manfredini carried out very intense pastoral activity in the Diocese of Piacenza for 13 years
In addition to his attention to the family and the world of culture, his pastoral action is characterized by universalist openness: he promotes numerous initiatives and supports collaborative movements with missions and developing countries, particularly in Africa and in Latin America. He feels the urgency of bearing witness to the love of Christ to the poor and of announcing the name of salvation to those who are far away. 

THE OPERA IN PIACENZA
In Piacenza Monsignor Enrico contributed to the birth and supported organizations that are still present and operational: Caritas, the ''La casa'' Institute for family pastoral care with the Counseling Center and the Life Help Service, the Germoglio (social cooperative), the AS.SO.FA. (association in support of the disabled and their families), the Berti cultural institute, the School of theology for the laity, the Youth Council, the NGO Africa Mission Cooperation and Development for support of missionary work, the association ''Research'' to help drug addicts. Without forgetting the care given to the Cathedral (as soon as he arrived, he had it equipped with lighting and heating) and the Eucharistic adoration in San Donnino.
SHEPHERD OF BOLOGNA

On 18 March 1983, Pope John Paul II entrusted him with the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Bologna. As in his style, Manfredini immediately began to meet the various diocesan realities, delved into the problems and began studying the pastoral strategy to propose to the Council. In a few months he won the respect and trust of those who met him, especially young people, who felt he was a ''new man''.
On December 16, 1983 he died suddenly of a heart attack. His body is buried in the Cathedral of Bologna and on his tomb it is written: ''Worker of the Gospel and charity''. 

His example and his exhortations still remain today in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him and work alongside him and of those who were only able to know him through his writings. (Read here!)
''REMEMBERING MGR. MANFREDINI''

A man of profound spirituality and a man of action, Monsignor Manfredini was a ''great servant of Christ'' because he was able to live his vocation as a Pastor without any fracture between the spiritual and operational dimensions: ''The faith - wrote Monsignor Manfredini - it is not so much an internal disposition of the soul, it is not the assent of the intellect, but rather the active commitment to go towards the person of Jesus and to form an ever stronger and deeper relationship with Him; not with an idea of Jesus, but with His person; not with a doctrinal system centered on Jesus, a theological-dogmatic heritage that has Christ as its theme: but with the person of the living Jesus, passionately loved, known through a dynamic experience of coexistence with Him throughout the course of earthly existence. ..''.

Mons. Enrico was capable of grasping the problems of the people he met and immediately throwing himself headlong into projects for their solution.

(See Photo Gallery here!)

For this reason, thanks to the commitment and generosity of the ''Group of friends of Don Vittorione di Varese'', on this 40th anniversary of his death we want to remember him, as well as with words and writings, by making a gesture of concrete charity : A new well was drilled in Karamoja and was dedicated to him.

Here is the well report
 
Press review and testimonials
New Journal article on Mons. Manfredini - 202
New Journal article on Mons. Manfredini - 2023
New Journal article on Mons. Manfredini - 2023
Testimony of Cardinal Giacomo Biffi - 1987
Testimony of Don Luigi Giussani - 1993
Testimony of Father Elvio Gostoli - 1993
Testimony of Cardinal Marco Cè - 1984
Testimony by Gigi De Fabiani - 1993
Testimony by Karl Josef Rauber - 1993
Testimony by Stefano Pareti - 1993
Testimony of Father Giovanni Marengoni - 1993
Testimony of his brother Carlo Manfredini - 1993
Testimony of Father Pietro Cozza - 1993
Testimony by Angelo Manfredini - YEAR
Testimony by Giuseppe Bertoni – 2023