Father Ottavio Posta: Righteous Among the Nations


On September 15, 2011, the title of Righteous Among the Nations was bestowed on the late Father Ottavio Posta by Yad VaShem in memory of the 30 Jews he saved during the Shoah.

ottavio_posta

The Italian priest was responsible for saving some 30 Jews who had been imprisoned at the castle on Isola Maggiore, an island on Lake Trasimeno, in central Italy. Doctor Isabella Farinelli, directress of Perugia's Diocesan Historical Archive, discovered a series of documents in which Jews who escaped deportation recounted the providential help of the parish priest of Isola Maggiore. A thank you letter of Aug. 23, 1944, sent to the archbishop of Perugia, explains what happened.

Father Posta, parish priest of the Isola Maggiore, "was of great help and consolation to us during the period in which we were prisoners on the island because of the racial laws," the letter reads. "When danger was threatening primarily because of the threats of the Germans against us, with a truly paternal and generous gesture he not only induced the islanders to transport us to the shore where the English already were, but he himself faced with us the danger of crossing the lake, under cannon and machine gun fire, giving a brilliant example to his parishioners and meriting our most profound gratitude.

"We would be most grateful to Your Excellency if with your word you made yourself the spokesman of our gratitude to the distinguished Father Ottavio Posta for his altruistic act, an act of a Good Shepherd of the unfortunate oppressed by inhuman laws."

The letter was signed by Bice Todros Ottolenghi, Giuliano Coen, Albertina Coen and Livia Coen.

To read the article about Father Posta on ZENIT here

 

 

Support Us Contact Us Vatican News in Hebrew Mass in Hebrew Child Safeguarding Policy


© 2020 Saint James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel