VERRI, BIAGIO. — Apostolic missionary, born at Barni, in Vallassina, on 2 October 1819, died at Turin on 26 October 1884; he joined the Work for the Ransom of the Little African Slave Girls with Fr. Niccolò Olivieri.
The latter, born at Voltaggio (Genoa) on 21 February 1792, was the great-nephew of St. G. B. De Rossi (v.); an esteemed director of the Shelter for Penitents in Genoa, in 1838 he began extending his activity to the ransoming of little black girls. He purchased them in the Egyptian markets and placed them, for their education, in numerous religious institutions in Europe. The initiative, begun without a pre-established plan, was transformed within a few years into the wisely organized activity that came to be known as the Work for the Ransom. The Work absorbed almost all of Olivieri’s activity, so that in 1848 he resigned his office and devoted himself to it entirely. In August 1859 he met Fr. B. V. in Milan, who, perfectly understanding the importance of the Work, became its promoter in collecting the funds needed. Subsequently, he felt within himself the desire for a more direct and complete collaboration. In 1857, wishing to discern God’s will concerning him, he undertook the Ignatian month of spiritual exercises at the Jesuit House in Verderio (Milan); he then went to Turin to seek counsel from Fr. Bosco, whom he had known for several years. On 9 December he departed from Milan for Egypt in the company of Fr. Olivieri. This was the first of numerous difficult and dangerous journeys. He purchased little black girls and brought them to Europe, placed them in institutions, and collected the considerable sums indispensable for the Work. At his suggestion, the Franciscan Missionaries of Egypt founded the College of the Little Black Girls in Cairo, which provided valuable assistance to the work of the Ransom. On 25 October 1864 Fr. Olivieri died. Fr. V. continued alone the immense task of the Ransom. Contrary to the advice of many, he did not wish to build houses, both because many institutions were already providing for the education of the little black girls and because this was then the period of the confiscation of religious property. Moreover, he did not wish to spend on buildings sums that could have served to ransom a greater number of little black girls. In Naples he formed a friendship with the ven. Ludovico da Casoria, who founded the College of the Little Black Boys, preparing them for the priesthood in accordance with his celebrated saying: «Africa must save Africa!». In 1884 he died at the Cottolengo in Turin. Three years later his remains were carried triumphantly to Barni. His cause of beatification is in progress. The fruits of the tireless activity of the two missionaries were very considerable. Of the very many little black girls who were ransomed, most achieved excellent results, both in the world and in the cloister. Some attained high degrees of holiness.