BARBERO, DOMENICO

BARBERO, DOMENICO. - Missionary of the Milan Institute for Foreign Missions, and the first Italian apostolic vicar of Hyderabad (Deccan, India). Born at Foglizzo on 14 Nov. 1820, ordained priest in 1846, he entered the Milan Institute in 1853. Assigned to the apostolic vicariate of Hyderabad, he was first vicar general, then placed in charge of the administration of the mission (1864), after the apostolic vicar Murphy had retired. In 1869 he was elected apostolic vicar and consecrated bishop in 1870, in Rome, where he also took part in the Vatican Council. He organized the mission, developing the districts, increasing charitable institutions and schools, establishing sisters in works of charity and female education, building churches, and increasing the number of missionaries and indigenous assistants. L'esposizione missionaria, Il Museo delle missioni cattoliche, Le missioni cattoliche published a considerable part of his very frequent and interesting correspondence. He died suddenly on 18 Sept. 1881, in his mission.