CONFORTI, GUIDO MARIA. - Bishop, b. at Ravadese (Parma) on March 30, 1865, d. at Parma on Nov. 5, 1931. He completed his studies in Parma, always ranking first or among the first. On Sept. 22, 1888, he was ordained a priest. In 1902 he was
Upon taking over the administration of the Diocese of Parma, his primary concern was to have a virtuous, learned, and active clergy. He celebrated a first synod in 1914 and a second after the publication of Canon Law, publishing its acts.
He founded the monthly bulletin Eco di Curia and rebuilt the Society of Gratuitous Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, which had once flourished and subsequently declined. He participated, notably with a significant personal contribution, in the episcopal conferences of Emilia. He held and presided over several congresses for various purposes and promoted various charitable works. He took a particular interest in the catechism, which he imposed in the form of a school. He established the Society of Culture among the clergy, which held monthly lectures on current topics. In 1922, on the occasion of political conflicts, he worked for peace and offered his mediation.
When Father Manna conceived the idea of organizing the clergy into a great union for uniform and continuous work for the missions, he turned to Msgr. C., who pledged his personal involvement.
However, the work for which Msgr. C. will be remembered in the history of missions is the Xaverian Missionary Society (Pia società S. Francesco Saverio per le Missioni Estere). In 1920 he went to visit his missions in China. He opened houses of the institute in Veneto, Lombardy, Marche, and Lucania.