Vincent Cimatti was an Italian Salesian priest and missionary who dedicated much of his life to service in Japan. Born in Faenza in 1879, he was ordained at twenty-four and later led a group of Salesians to establish a mission in the country. He served as a prefect apostolic and held the rank of bishop. He is also recognized as the founder of the Caritas Sisters of Jesus and was the brother of Maria Raffaella Cimatti, a beatified member of the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy.
Life and work
After his ordination, Cimatti traveled to Japan to lead missionary efforts for the Salesians of Don Bosco. In 1935, he was appointed as the prefect apostolic of Miyazaki. He remained active in his religious duties until his death in Tokyo in 1965. His sister, Maria Raffaella, also pursued a religious vocation, following a similar path of service.
Veneration
The Catholic Church recognizes Cimatti as venerable, a status granted by Pope John Paul II in 1991. Following his death, his remains were re-exhumed in 1977 and were noted to be perfectly intact. His body is currently preserved in a crypt located in Chofu, Japan.