SIDOTTI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA. — Born in Palermo in 1668 to a noble family, he died in Japan in October–November 1715. He was a priest and missionary.
An auditor of the Rota, he departed for the Far East with TOURNUS (v.), stopping in the Philippines in 1704 with the aim of entering Japan. In Manila he first cared for the sick at the Royal Hospital, which he succeeded in having enlarged, and then worked for the construction of the Seminary of S. Clemente for natives, which was completed through his efforts. He obtained from the Discalced Augustinians a considerable number of missionaries for Japan. Then, on 22 August 1708, he departed with several Japanese for Japan, reaching it on 10 October of the same year. Betrayed and immediately captured, he was subjected to numerous interrogations, during which, while acknowledging himself to be a Catholic priest, he succeeded in winning their sympathy and avoiding the death penalty. On 28 October 1709 he was transferred to the Kirishitan Yashiki prison near Tokyo, supported by the benevolence of the shogun himself. Here, in 1714, he was able to baptize his two custodians and perhaps others as well. When the fact became known, he was placed under exceptionally strict custody. Meanwhile, on 27 August 1714, Propaganda had appointed him apostolic vicar of Japan. S.’s was the Church’s final attempt to save the Christians of Japan.
SIDRACH (Heb. Sadhrah), Septuagint Σεδράγη. — Anania (v.), companion of Daniele (Dan. 1:7; 3:12 ff.). It is probably a graphic alteration of the name of the deity Marduk.