Luigi Calza Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Most Reverend
Birth Date:26 July 1879
Birth Place:Parma, Italy
Death Place:Zhengzhou, China
Religion:Roman Catholic
Consecrated By:Guido Maria Conforti
Luigi Calza, S.X.
Vicar Apostolic of Zhengzhou
Titular Bishop of Termessus
Consecration:12 April 1912
Appointed:23 June 1906
Ended:27 October 1944
Successor:Bishop Faustino M. Tissot, S.X.
Ordination:24 May 1902
Ordained By:Bishop Francesco Magani

Luigi Calza also known as Luigi Calza (Calzi) was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate, member of the Xaverian Missionary Fathers, who served as Prefect and Vicar Apostolic in China from 1906 to 1944.[1] [2] [3] He is considered the first Xaverian bishop appointed in China.[4]

Early life

Calza was born in Parma, Italy on 26 July 1879.

Priesthood

Luigi became a professed member of the Xaverian Missionary Fathers in year 1897 and was ordained a priest on 24 May 1902 by Bishop Francesco Magani.

Episcopate

Luigi was appointed Prefect of the Prefecture Apostolic of Western Honan nowadays Roman Catholic Diocese of Zhengzhou on 23 June 1906. He was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Prefecture Apostolic of Western Honan and Titular Bishop of Termessus (Titular See) on 18 September 1911 and consecrated a bishop by St. Guido Maria Conforti on 12 April 1912. During the famine of 1911 to 1913, he opened orphanages for the orphans and set up many schools, training centres and hospitals in Zhengzhou.[5]

Death

Calza died in China on 27 October 1944.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bishop Luigi Calza (Calzi) [Catholic-Hierarchy]]. 2022-01-07. www.catholic-hierarchy.org.
  2. Web site: Diocese of Zhengzhou 鄭州, China. 2022-01-07. GCatholic.
  3. Web site: C Bishops in China. 2022-01-07. www.bishops-in-china.com.
  4. Web site: From China to the World. 2022-01-07. Xaverian Missionaries in Bangladesh. en-US.
  5. Web site: ITALY-CHINA: Zhengzhou celbrates the 100th anniversary of the Don Luigi Calza hospital – Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale. 2022-01-07. www.esteri.it.