Alessandro Gavazzi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alessandro Gavazzi
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 21 March 1809 |
| Died | 9 January 1889 (aged 79) |
Alessandro Gavazzi (March 21, 1809 – January 9, 1889) was an Italian speaker and a strong supporter of his country. He was born in Bologna, Italy. He first became a monk in 1825 and joined the Barnabites in Naples. There, he taught public speaking starting in 1829.
Gavazzi later left the church. He became famous for speaking out against certain religious ideas. He traveled around Europe and the United States, sharing his views. His speeches sometimes led to big protests. For example, the Gavazzi Riots in Canada in 1853 caused several deaths.
Alessandro Gavazzi's Life Journey
In 1840, Alessandro Gavazzi had already shared his modern ideas. Because of this, he was moved to a less important job in Rome. After French forces took control of Rome, he left Italy.
He then started a strong campaign against priests and Jesuits in England, Scotland, and North America. He did this partly through a newspaper called Gavazzi Free Word.
While in England, he slowly joined the Evangelical church in 1855. He became a leader and organizer for Italian Protestants in London. In 1860, he went back to Italy. There, he worked as an army-chaplain with Giuseppe Garibaldi, a famous Italian general.
In 1870, Gavazzi became the head of the Free Church (Chiesa libera) of Italy. He brought together many small groups into the Unione delle Chiese libere in Italia. In 1875, he started a special school in Rome for the Free Church. At this school, he taught about religious beliefs and how to defend them. He passed away in Rome on January 9, 1889, at 79 years old.
Some of his important writings include No Union with Rome (1871) and The Priest in Absolution (1877).
The Gavazzi Riots: What Happened?
In the spring of 1853, Gavazzi visited North America. The Gavazzi Riots were public disturbances. They happened in Quebec on June 6, 1853, and in Montreal on June 9. Mobs attacked the places where Gavazzi was giving talks.
His talks in Quebec and Montreal were very critical of the Catholic Church. In both cities, soldiers had to be called in to stop the trouble. In Montreal, 10 people lost their lives. These riots also had an impact on politics.
See also
In Spanish: Alessandro Gavazzi para niños
