Italy: Superior General of Xaverian Missionaries has died

Fr Luigi Menegazzo

The Superior General of the Xaverian Missionaries, Father Luigi Menegazzo passed away yesterday, 18 December, at Santo Spirito hospital in Rome. He was 64 years old. Fr Luigi had been in poor health for some time. In recent days, his health had worsened. He died of cardio-respiratory failure.

Born in 1952 in Cittadella, in the province of Padua, Luigi Menegazzo entered the Xaverian Missionaries in 1963. He was ordained a priest on September 25, 1977. After obtaining a Masters in Missiology at the Gregorian University in 1980, he was assigned to Japan, where he served as assistant priest and then parish priest in the parish of Nichinan.

In 1989 he was assigned to Italy, where he taught at the Theology community in Parma. He returned to Japan in 1994 and remained there until 2001. In that period he served as parish priest in Tamana; Vice-Regional and Regional Superior (1998-2001).

In 2001 he was elected Vicar General, Prefect of persons, and General Procurator at the Holy See. On 4 July 2013 he was elected Superior General.

According to information from the General Curia, his funeral will be held in Rome at the General House in Viale Vaticano 40, on Tuesday, 20 December at 10.30am. In Parma, at the Conforti Sanctuary of the Mother House, there will be a prayer vigil at 8.45pm, on Tuesday, and a Eucharistic celebration on Wednesday 21, at 10.30am.

May he rest in peace.

Source: Fides