Secondo Pollo was an Italian Catholic priest and military chaplain who served during World War II. Born in 1908 in Caresanablot, he studied theology in Rome and was ordained in 1931. Despite having vision impairments, he requested to serve as a chaplain in the military. He died in 1941 in Rožaje while assisting a wounded soldier during a skirmish. He is recognized as a saint and is commemorated in the Catholic Church for his heroic virtue and selfless service.
Life and service
After his ordination, Pollo worked as a teacher for seminarians and served as a prison chaplain. During the Second World War, he joined the 6th Alpine Division as a lieutenant captain. While tending to a comrade in combat, he was fatally struck by a bullet. His final moments were marked by his concern for his fellow soldiers, instructing them to care for others even as he faced death.
Veneration
The process for his beatification began in 1955 and concluded with Pope John Paul II in 1998 during a visit to Vercelli. Following the recognition of a miracle, he was beatified. He is honored in the Catholic tradition, with his feast day observed on 26 December.