Saint Leopold Mandić
Tiny Croatian Capuchin who spent decades hearing confessions in Padua
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Priest, Religious
- Life
- 1866 – 1942
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 30 July
- Countries
- Montenegro, Croatia, Italy
Life story
Bogdan Ivan Mandić was born on 12 May 1866 in Herceg Novi on the Adriatic coast, then part of the Austrian Empire and now in Montenegro. His family was of Croatian origin. He joined the Capuchins in Italy, took the name Leopold, and was ordained a priest in Venice in 1890.
Leopold was very small, spoke with a speech impediment and had poor health. He wished to serve in the East, working for reunion between Catholics and the Orthodox. His superiors, however, did not send him, given his health and his suitability for work in Italy. He accepted this as his calling and kept the hope of reunion as part of his daily prayer.
From the early twentieth century he lived mainly at the Capuchin friary in Padua, where he spent many hours each day hearing confessions from people of every background. Many remembered him as a patient and gentle confessor. He was often called the Apostle of Unity.
He died on 30 July 1942 in Padua. During the war the friary church was destroyed by bombing, but his cell and confessional survived; they are now part of the Sanctuary of Leopold Mandić. Paul VI beatified him on 2 May 1976 and John Paul II canonised him on 16 October 1983.
Works and witness
- Joined the Capuchins and was ordained a priest in Venice in 1890
- Hoped to work for Catholic–Orthodox reunion but was assigned to stay in Italy
- Heard confessions many hours a day in Padua for decades
- His cell and confessional survived wartime bombing
- Canonised in 1983
Patron of
People with cancer
Saints from the same country
References
- Martyrologium Romanum
- Decrees of beatification (1976) and canonisation (1983)
- Capuchin biographies
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.