VERSIGLIA, LUIGI. – Salesian, bishop, martyr, b. at Olivo Gessi (diocese of Tortona) on 5 June 1873, d. at Linchow on 25 Feb. 1930.
Having entered the Salesians in 1888 and been ordained priest after studies at Foglizzo and the Gregorian University in 1895, he devoted a decade to the formation of novices within his Congregation and to various ministries, until in 1906 he departed for China to found a Chinese mission at Macao. In 1920 he was elected and consecrated Apostolic Vicar of the new vicariate of Shinchow, where he labored with unflagging zeal and energy.
His fellow martyr was the Salesian Callisto Caravario, b. at Cuorgné (diocese of Turin) on 8 Jan. 1903, who entered the Salesians in 1918, went to China in 1924, and was ordained priest in 1929.
While traveling from Shinchow to visit the Christian community at Linchow, Bp. V., Fr. Caravario, and three Chinese girls—one a religious catechist—were intercepted by Chinese bandits during a boat journey. The bandits forced them ashore, demanded a large sum from the bishop, then changed their minds upon seeing the girls and attempted to abduct them. The two missionaries resisted and sought to shield the girls with their own bodies; enraged, the bandits beat them mercilessly, bound them, and shot them to death. The cause for their beatification was introduced on 13 June 1952.