Father Martino Capelli, SCJ, Martyr of the Second World War, Soon to be Beatified

On November 21, 2025, the Holy Father authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the martyrdom of the Servant of God, Father Martino Capelli, an Italian priest and member of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This decree paves the way for his beatification. To better understand what this concretely means, we interviewed the Congregation’s Postulator, Father Ramón Domínguez Fraile, SCJ, regarding the details of this canonical process, the historical context of his martyrdom, and the impact of this recognition on the Church and the Dehonian family.

The Interview

Father Ramón Domínguez, on November 21, 2025, the Holy Father authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the Martyrdom of the Servant of God, Father Martino Capelli, SCJ. What exactly does this ecclesiastical recognition signify?

It simply means that the Church officially recognizes Father Capelli’s martyrdom. It acknowledges that Father Capelli was martyred and assassinated out of hatred for the faith (odium fidei). This is an official recognition that validates the entirety of the canonical process.

Before continuing, what are the key points to remember about the life of Father Martino Capelli, SCJ?

Martino Capelli was born in 1912 in Nembro, a small village near Bergamo, Italy. He entered the congregation in 1930 and was ordained a priest in 1938. He died in Pioppe di Salvaro, near Bologna, Italy, in 1944, where he was martyred.

I would like to highlight a lesser-known but symbolic date: December 12, 1931, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was at that time that he formulated his “petition for martyrdom,” asking the Virgin to grant him to be a martyr one day. In short, Father Capelli’s life can be summarized as follows: he always desired to be a good priest, a missionary, and a martyr.

Could you describe the historical and situational context of his martyrdom?

We are in the middle of the Second World War. Nazi troops had invaded Italy, and the Bologna region was particularly occupied by numerous German forces.

Father Martino Capelli went to a small village near Bologna to help another priest, Monsignor Melini. It was there that he met Don Elia Comini, who would become his companion in martyrdom. It was during that summer of 1944, when these events occurred, that the Nazi troops committed massacres in the Monte Sole region, near Bologna.

Father Martino Capelli and Don Elia Comini died and were martyred on October 1st, but other priests, religious, and many people were also murdered. They were killed out of hatred for the faith (odium fidei), due to their status as priests and, above all, because they had stayed in the village to help the population. The Nazis massacred them simply because they were priests and they hated Jesus Christ.

How long did this canonical process take until the official recognition decree was issued?

It was a fairly long and complex process. It began in the Italian Province of the Congregation and the Diocese of Bologna, who promoted the cause jointly with the Salesians.

The diocesan process took place between the 1980s and 1990s. At the time, it was focused on the study of virtues. It was only later, particularly between 2018 and 2019, after the documents were presented to the Dicastery, that the recognition of martyrdom was requested and the cause was asked to be examined from that perspective. It was at that point that the entire process was modified so that Father Capelli and Don Elia Comini could be recognized as martyrs. It has been a long and complicated journey, but we have finally succeeded in obtaining official recognition of their martyrdom.

How should we now call Father Martino Capelli?

From the papal authorization for the promulgation of the decree on November 21st, until the moment of his beatification, Father Martino Capelli is officially called the Venerable Servant of God Martino Capelli.

When is the beatification ceremony scheduled to take place?

It is difficult to answer this question with certainty, as the exact date is not yet known. However, we can suggest that the beatification ceremony might take place in late 2026. It is difficult to set a precise day because, at present, the Salesian Congregation, the Diocese of Bologna, and our Congregation must consult with the Secretariat of State and the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to establish a date. While nothing concrete can be announced, it is certain that it will happen in 2026.

How can the faithful in general, and the Dehonian family in particular, accompany and support this beatification process?

I would mention three very simple things. The first is to get to know the life and martyrdom of Father Martino Capelli, as well as his companion, the Salesian Don Elia Comini. The second is to pray through the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God, Father Martino Capelli. There is a specific prayer dedicated to him through which we can seek his intercession. Finally, the third is to rejoice and participate in all the activities that will be communicated during this preparation for the beatification. Father Martino Capelli, like so many others, is a prophet of love and a servant of reconciliation, as stipulated in our constitutions. His is a testimony that we must study, know, and above all, whose intercession we must invoke.