PERLO, FILIPPO. - Missionary bishop, born at Caramagna (Piemonte) on 8 February 1873, died at Rome on 4 November 1948. Having entered the Seminary of Fossano, he later transferred to that of Torino, where he was ordained priest in 1896. In the same year he obtained degrees in theology and in utroque iure.
When the Istituto Missioni della Consolata (v.) ALAMANNI (v.), he was among the first to enroll (1901), and in 1902, together with Fr. Tommaso Gaya, he took part in the first expedition of missionaries to Kenya. Received by the chief of the Akikuyu, Karoli, whom he later converted, he established his first residence at Tuthù. The country, its people, and its language were still little known. He explored Kikuyu country, described its inhabitants, and oversaw the publication of grammars, lexicons, and books. He founded about twenty mission stations, the Seminary, the monastery for indigenous sisters, workshops, and schools of arts and crafts. Superior of the mission in 1905, he was consecrated titular bishop of Maronea in 1909 and appointed first apostolic vicar of Kenya.
From 1926 to 1929 he succeeded Canon Allamano in directing the Istituto Missioni della Consolata.
His brother Gabriele (Fossano 1879-Roma 1948) likewise carried out his apostolic work in the missions of Kenya; he subsequently became apostolic prefect of Benadir and first apostolic vicar of Mogadiscio, titular bishop of Amizone (1927).
Principal works of F.: The Apostolate of the Missionary Sister (Torino [1924]); Infanticide in Equatorial Africa (there [1924]); Kuroli (there [1927]).