At the service of the Church

Salesian Coadjutor Brother Antonio Maggiotto, who spent over three decades at the service of L’Osservatore Romano and of the Vatican Printing Press, passed away on Tuesday, 19 July, at the age of 86 in his native town, Bessica-Loria, Italy, following an illness.

After professing his first vows in 1954, and spending three years in Colle Don Bosco, Asti, Brother Maggiotto was assigned to work in the Salesian Printing School of the Argentine community of San Isidro, Buenos Aires, where he made his professional vows in 1960. In 1975, he was sent to Rome where he began his long collaboration with the Vatican printing press, initially as technical assistant. Three years later, he was appointed technical director and then commercial director of the Vatican Printing Press where, along with his confrère Giuseppe Canesso, he made many important innovative changes such as the establishment of the Vatican Photography Services for the time.

His funeral was held on Thursday, 21 July, in the parish Church of Bessica.

Brother Maggiotto leaves in all who knew him a wonderful memory, that of a simple man, always optimistic and full of energy — an authentic Salesian spirit. His sudden departure leaves us with great sadness.