Giovanni Maria Boccardo was an Italian Catholic priest born in 1848 in Moncalieri. He is primarily recognized for establishing the Poor Daughters of Saint Cajetan, a religious congregation, following a cholera outbreak in 1884. Throughout his ministry, he served as a teacher, a spiritual director for seminarians, and a parish priest. His dedication to service included providing care to those suffering from the epidemic and offering spiritual support to prisoners in Saluzzo. He was beatified in 1998 by Pope John Paul II.
Life and ministry
Ordained in 1871, Boccardo held various roles, including teaching in Turin and serving as a canon. In 1882, he became the pastor of Moncalieri, where he remained until his health declined. After being paralyzed in 1911, he was forced to resign his official duties. He was the elder brother of Luigi Boccardo, who was also a blessed priest.
Veneration
The Catholic Church beatified him in 1998 during a papal visit to Turin, following the recognition of a miracle involving a healing in Brazil. His feast day is observed on 30 December. His religious order, which grew to include numerous houses globally, received formal papal approval in the mid-20th century.