Pietro Bonilli was an Italian Catholic priest born in Trevi in 1841. Following his ordination in 1863, he served as a parish priest in Cannaiola. He is primarily recognized for his extensive charitable work, which included founding the Sisters of the Holy Family in 1888. His efforts focused on supporting vulnerable groups, such as blind and deaf individuals, as well as orphans through the Nazarene Institute for Orphan Girls. He passed away in Spoleto in 1935 after losing his sight in 1929.
Life and work
After being ordained in 1863, Bonilli dedicated much of his ministry to social service. He established the Nazarene Institute for Orphan Girls to aid children in need. His commitment to the marginalized extended to serving the blind and deaf. Later in his career, he served as the canon penitentiary at the Spoleto Cathedral. Despite losing his vision in 1929, he continued his spiritual mission until his death in 1935.
Veneration and legacy
The religious order he founded, the Sisters of the Holy Family, remains active today in locations such as El Salvador and India. Bonilli was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988. His remains are kept in San Michele, located in Cannaiola. He is commemorated in the Catholic Church on April 24.