ASSOCIATION OF THE COMMUNITY POPE JOHN XXIII

FATHER ORESTE BENZI
Indefatigable apostle of charity for the last and the defenseless

Father Oreste Benzi was born on 7 September 1925 in Rimini, Italy, into a poor family of laborers, the seventh of 9 children. On 29 June 1949, he received the priestly ordination from the Bishop of Rimini, Monsignor Luigi Santa.
Since then, his greatest interest was to propose "a friendly meeting with Christ" to adolescents and young people.

After 1950 he had been a teacher and spiritual father to the seminary at Rimini. Subsequently he taught religion in different schools of Rimini, becoming a fulcrum for many students. In the time between 1969 and 2000 he is fully devoted to his new role as pastor in Rimini.

Meeting lonely and emarginated people, and counting with the full support of some young, Father Oreste guided the opening of the first Host Family of Community Pope John XXIII in 1973.

He is the Founder of the Community Pope John XXIII and was its General Responsible until 2 November 2007, the day he died.