SACCONI, ANTONIO MARIA. - Friar Minor, apostolic vicar of Shansi and Shensi, in the world Vincenzo, b. at Osimo on 23 March 1741 and d. at Taigun on 3 Feb. 1785.
Ordained priest on 24 Feb. 1764, he left for China in 1771, arriving at Macao on 13 Aug. 1772. Assigned to the mission of Shantung, he arrived there on 1 May 1774 after overcoming several difficulties. He immediately devoted himself to the study of the language, and in Oct. 1775 he was able to begin his apostolate, frequently visiting the faithful threatened by persecution. On 2 Sept. 1778 he was appointed apostolic vicar of the provinces of Shansi and Shensi, and on the 4th of the same month he was elected bishop of Domiziopoli. The briefs of appointment were dispatched for China on 26 Sept. 1778 and arrived there in Apr. 1780. He was consecrated on 24 Feb. 1781 at Si-gan-fu. The conditions of the vicariate of Shansi and Shensi were similar to those of Shantung. In those immense provinces, to which Kansu and Hukwang were added, only 11 missionaries were at work: 5 in Shensi, 3 in Shansi, 2 in Hukwang, and 1 in Kansu. In 1784, during a new persecution, Msgr. S. was forced to hide in the vicinity of Taigun; but, in order to avoid reprisals against the Christians, he presented himself to the authorities, who imprisoned him, and he d. in prison the following year.