1900 - Franciscus Fogolla

July 9, 1900

Taiyuan, Shanxi

Franciscus Fogolla.

Franciscus Fogolla was born at Montereggio, Italy, on October 4, 1839. When he was 17, Fogolla decided to enter the Franciscan Order and later became a missionary. After completing studies in theology and philosophy, he was ordained a priest in 1863. He finally left for China in December 1866, joining Gregorius Grassi in the work at Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. He travelled widely, preaching the gospel and discipling the Christians. He also found time to study the Chinese classics in order to better understand the people he was called to minister to. Fogolla’s knowledge of the classics won him the respect of Chinese scholars and officials.

After having spent a number of years in China, Fogolla became deeply concerned at the abuse of power he saw in the Church. He determined to rid the congregations of abusive and controlling leaders, and also decided the Church should defend its members against attacks and false accusations brought by non-believers. Whenever an innocent Catholic was hauled into court, Fogolla spared no effort in seeing that justice prevailed.

In the 1880s Fogolla twice fell seriously ill. He was recalled to Taiyuan where he spent the remainder of his life. After his health improved, he was named the Vicar General of Taiyuan. The now Bishop Fogolla continued to work tirelessly for the welfare of the Chinese believers, and as a result the Church throughout Shanxi experienced substantial growth.

Catholic missions in China had always struggled to gain much funding from European churches, so when an opportunity arose to attend the Turin Exhibition in 1897, Fogolla travelled to Italy, taking with him several bright young Chinese Catholics. They travelled around Europe for two years, thrilling congregations with their presentations and opening the door to a great increase in financial support for the Shanxi mission. Plans were put into place to build and renovate schools, churches, orphanages and seminaries throughout the province, but the Boxer storm was unleashed before Fogolla had the chance to see most of these plans implemented.

Fogolla and his Chinese catechist, both slaughtered by the Boxers.

Bishop Franciscus Fogolla was hauled before the Governor of Shanxi on July 9, 1900. A Protestant account of the massacre recalled that the “bishop, an old man with a white beard, asked the governor, ‘Why are you doing this wicked deed?’ Yu Xian answered by drawing his sword and slashing the bishop across the face.”[1] The Boxers then forced the 61-year-old Italian to the ground and hacked his head from his body with their swords. This signalled the start of the massacre, and all the other Christians were decapitated one-by-one.