ANTONINO da LODI. — Missionary, born Ago-stino Pezzoni on 19 Nov. 1777, entered the Capuchins at Orta on 4 Apr. 1796. After several years of zealous work in the Apostolic Prefecture of Mesolcina, he was assigned (27 Apr. 1805) to the mission in India, where he enthusiastically devoted himself to the study of local languages and translated the Pentateuch, the Psalter, the New Testament, various liturgical books and other works for the instruction of the indigenous people. In 1824 he returned to Rome and presented to the Congregation of Propaganda Fide a detailed report, rich in information on Tibet, Nepal and India.
Among the means he proposed to facilitate the conversion of pagans and the growth of Christian life, the following stand out: a) a seminary for indigenous clergy; b) elementary schools dependent on the missions; c) study circles at each mission residence. The Congregation appointed him first Apostolic Vicar of Tibet and titular bishop of Hesebon. A. received episcopal consecration on 12 Dec. 1825 and governed the mission for sixteen years (1826–1842), multiplying works of zeal and traversing his vast vicariate. Exhausted by fatigue, in 1842 he retired to the Capuchin missionary college of S. Fedele in Rome, where for a time he taught Hindustani to future missionaries and compiled an Italian–Hindustani grammar published in 1874. He died at Lugano in the Capuchin convent on 3 Oct. 1844; several of his manuscripts are still preserved there.