FOGOLLA, FRANCESCO, Blessed. - Bishop, missionary and martyr, born at Montevergio in the Tuscan Garfagnana on 4 Oct. 1833, died on 9 July 1900 during the Boxer persecution at Tai-yuan-fu, Shansi (China). At the age of 17 he entered the Franciscan Order and at 24 was ordained priest. In 1866 he set out as a missionary for China, destined for Shansi. He acquired the Chinese language with rare perfection.
Of an active and ardent character, he soon became the advocate of Christians. In 1887, when the great international exhibition was organized in Turin with a special missionary section, he took part to represent the missions of Shansi, bringing with him much rare and curious material. He took the opportunity to make a tour of Europe to promote his mission, and while he was in Paris he received the appointment as bishop, the so-called see of Mons. Grassi. In 1898 he returned to China, where his desire to die with arms in hand was fulfilled in martyrdom. He was beatified by Pius XII on 24 Nov. 1946.