Corrado d'Ascoli, Blessed

CORRADO d'ASCOLI, Blessed. - Franciscan, born at Ascoli on 18 Sept. 1234 to the nobles Francesco Milani and Agnese Saladini, died there on 17 Apr. 1289. A companion of Girolamo Massi, later Niccolò IV, with whom he took the habit of the Friars Minor, he soon acquired a reputation for holiness and learning. He evangelized Libya, converting several thousand infidels, and was the first of all to bring little Moors to Europe for their education. Niccolò III sent him together with Girolamo to Paris, to the king of France, in order to induce him to adopt more peaceful sentiments towards the king of Spain; and he returned to Paris, a little later, to teach theology, arousing, on both occasions, great admiration, both in teaching and in preaching and in the exercise of charity. Summoned to Rome by his friend and confrere, who had become pope, to receive the insignia of the cardinalate, he died upon reaching Ascoli. Pio VI confirmed his cult on 5 Feb. 1792.

Ferdinando Diotallevi