Blessed Francesco Maria Greco

Francesco Maria Greco (26 July 1857 – 13 January 1931) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest who served in the Archdiocese of Cosenza. Along with Raffaela De Vincentis in 1894, he established the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts. Greco served as both a pastor and a professor who operated in Cosenza and opened a catechetical school and hospital service for the poor. The cause of beatification commenced several decades after his death in a diocesan process that granted him the title of Servant of God. Pope John Paul II proclaimed him to be Venerable in 2004 after the recognition of his life of heroic virtue. Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to him in 2016 which allowed for his beatification which was celebrated in Cosenza on 21 May 2016. Cardinal Angelo Amato presided over the celebration on the behalf of the pontiff. Francesco Maria Greco was born in Acri in 1857 to Raffaele Greco and Concetta Pancaro as the second of five children; one brother was Filippo Greco. His father - a pharmacist - wanted Greco to work with him but the latter desired to follow a religious path and denied his father the chance to work with him. He commenced his studies in Calabria and was ordained to the priesthood on 17 December 1881. He continued his studies and obtained a doctorate in theological studies in Naples on 22 August 1885. He began to teach seminarians in Cosenza as a professor. On 16 September 1887 he was appointed as the pastor of the San Nicolo parish in Acri where he organized the opening of a hospital dubbed "Caritas". He opened a catechetical school and a centre for adolescents in that parish on 6 July 1888. From 1892 until 1895 he served as a theological professor in Bisignano. In 1894, alongside Raffaele De Vincenti, the priest established the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts religious congregation to promote evangelization and promotion to the Sacred Heart.