Joseph Pignatelli

Joseph Pignatelli (* December 27, 1737 in Zaragoza, Spain, † November 15, 1811 in Naples, Italy ) was a Spanish Jesuit and priest. He is a saint of the Catholic Church.

Joseph was 16- year member of the Jesuit order. After completed studies of theology and philosophy in Zaragoza, he received the priesthood in 1762. As in 1767, the Spanish government reported all Jesuits from the country, he joined the other 400 members of religious orders who were taken on a boat trip from Spain into exile in Corsica and Italy. From the official dissolution of the Jesuit order in 1773 by Pope Clement XIV, he worked as a diocesan priest in Bologna. 1793 founded the Jesuits from Russia, where the province of the order still existed, a community in Colorno first time, where Joseph could renew his vows. In 1799 he was master of novices in Colorno. 1803 Joseph was appointed Provincial of Italy. So that he could be involved with all his strength on the restoration of the Order again. Thanks to his work from 1807 onwards was the religious community in Sicily worked again. He died three years before the complete approval of the Order.

Joseph was instituted by Pope Pius XI. Beatified in 1933 and in 1954 by Pope Pius XII. canonized.