Saint Artemide Zatti

Life story

Artemide Zatti was born on 12 October 1880 in the province of Reggio Emilia, Italy. In 1897, at 17, his family emigrated to Argentina and settled in Bahía Blanca, where he worked in a hotel and a brick factory.

Inspired by Don Bosco and the Salesians, he joined them in 1900 as a candidate for the priesthood. While caring for a sick young priest he contracted tuberculosis, so in 1902 he was sent to Viedma, whose climate was thought healthier. There he worked under Father Evaristo Garrone, who ran a hospital and pharmacy for the poor. After he recovered he promised Our Lady, Help of Christians, to serve the sick poor for life.

He professed as a Salesian brother in 1908. When Father Garrone died in 1911, he took charge of the hospital and pharmacy, and in 1913 he built a new hospital. He nursed patients, prepared medicines and ran the institution.

In July 1950 he fell from a ladder and was afterwards diagnosed with liver cancer. He died on 15 March 1951 in Viedma, aged 70, and is buried in the Salesian chapel there. Pope John Paul II beatified him on 14 April 2002 and Pope Francis canonized him on 9 October 2022.

Works and witness

• Emigrated to Argentina in 1897 and worked in Bahía Blanca
• Joined the Salesians in 1900 and professed as a brother in 1908
• Ran the hospital and pharmacy for the poor in Viedma from 1911
• Built a new hospital in 1913
• Beatified in 2002 and canonized in 2022

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Holy See: biography of Artemide Zatti for his beatification, 14 April 2002 (vatican.va, ns_lit_doc_20020414_zatti_en)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.