In Pace Christi

Having fought a battle with cancer for more than ten years, on 1st September 2007 Fr. Paolo Longo passed from this life to the home of the Father. During that decade, intensive therapy and his strong will to live kept him going, working at his various ministries until October 2006. It was then that he had to move to Verona. But even there, in spite of the chemotherapy, he led an active life right to the end.

Fr. Paolo was a brilliant man and could express himself extremely well. He had an encyclopaedic mind and could speak on almost any topic with a degree of competence and fascinating clarity. His memory was like that of a computer and he had remarkable powers of observation.

Born at Piove di Sacco, Padova, on 8 December 1928, he entered the diocesan seminary and later asked to be admitted to the Comboni Missionaries as a student, having already spoken with the spiritual director. The latter, like the rector of the seminary, had no objection. In his written request he added: “I have already informed my mother. Though naturally displeased, her profound Christian faith and great love for the missions helped her to give her consent.”

Next came the novitiate at Florence and then his request to take his first vows: “The Sacred Heart will have one more son, neither holy nor virtuous. but willing to try to be so. I want us to agree on one thing: alone I can do nothing right… but I will try to gladly and happily obey the superiors whom the Lord will appoint for me.”

After his first vows at Florence in 1948, he took his perpetual vows at Venegono in 1951. He was ordained priest by Cardinal A. Idelfonso Schuster in the cathedral of Milan on 7 June 1952.

As a professor, he was noted for his skilled approach, his lucid presentation and great humanity. He read a lot and on every topic. He had a great love for Comboni. He had a profound knowledge of the Bible and a deep sense of history. He often referred to the Fathers of the Church and Church history in all its lights and shadows. His occupation as an educator began after his ordination as he sought to continue his studies for a degree at the Theological Faculty of Milan. Much to his disappointment, he had to begin to teach dogmatic theology before gaining his degree. The subject became his speciality at our scholasticate in Venegono (1952-1962). After ten years he was at last allowed to go to Uganda. Appointed to Arua diocese, he taught at the seminary and was made a councillor to the bishop. He learned the local language so that he could engage in direct ministry (1962-1968).

After the 1969 General Chapter, Fr. Paolo was assigned to Italy until 1976, where he worked in formation and gave lectures, first at San Pancrazio and then as Secretary General at the Generalate Curia. He then spent ten years in the United States, a place where he got on very well, especially in the parish of St. Pius. In 1989, however, he was again assigned to Italy. In holy obedience he accepted the transfer, as by now he felt that the community of St. Pius had become his home and family. In 2001 he returned to America where he stayed until he felt ill and returned to Verona, where he died peacefully on 10 September 2007. Thus it was that one more runner had completed his race.
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 238 suppl. In Memoriam, aprile-luglio 2008, pp. 15-23.