On the evening of Saturday, February 18, Father Fernando Galbiati died
in Lecco. He was a missionary in China, twelfth Superior General of the
Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), General Secretary of
the Pontifical Missionary Union (PMU) and of the Society for the
Propagation of the Faith (PSPF).
Born on November 14, 1932 in Bussero (Milan), he entered PIME in Monza
on September 1, 1943. He was ordained in Milan by Cardinal Giovanni
Battista Montini, the future Paul VI, on June 28, 1956, the following
year he left for Hong Kong. Here he carries out studies and obtains
several diplomas, and becomes a "Qualified Teacher" at the Hong Kong
Department of Education.
He then obtained a doctorate in Political
Science and Economics at the University La Sapienza of Rome, becomes
Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford in England and a member
of the New York Academy of Science.
In Hong Kong he is engaged in the pastoral activity in various parishes
and for some years taught philosophy at the Holy Spirit Seminary. He
gave a significant contribution in the academic and social field. He
founded several groups for visits to families, for financial support,
and youth activities. From 1971 to 1975 he was assistant of Mani Tese,
participated in the PIME Assembly of Update 1970-71 (Rome) and at the
Ninth General Assembly in which he was elected Superior General
(1983-1989).
Once his term expired he returned to Hong Kong, but in 1999
was called to go to Rome, first as Secretary General of the Pontifical
Missionary Union (1999-2003), then as coordinator of the Pontifical
Mission Societies, and as Secretary of the International Society for the
Propagation of the Faith (2004-2005). He is also responsible for
drafting the new Statute of the Pontifical Mission Societies, published
in 2005.
In 2006-2007, he was General Secretary of the Pontifical
Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
After a few years at the PIME General House in Rome, since 2015, for
health reasons, he was at the Blessed John Mazzucconi’s House, in Rancio
di Lecco, where he died.
After the funeral, he was buried in the PIME
cemetery in Villa Grugana.