1831 Birth of Daniel Comboni

1881 Death of Comboni in Khartoum, Sudan

1927 Diocesan cause is begun in Verona

1970 Miraculous cure of Maria Paixao (in Brazil)

1993 Heroic virtues recognized by Vatican

1994 Comboni is declared Venerable

1995 Pope John Paul II gives official approval of 1970 miracle

1996 Solemn Beatification of Daniel Comboni

2002 Approval of 1997 cure of Lubna Aziz (in Sudan)

2003 Solemn Canonization in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome

Daniel Comboni was born in Limone on Lake Garda (Brescia) on 15 March 1831. After the family and parish education of his first years, he entered Fr. Mazza's institute in Verona at the age of twelve where his missionary vocation for Africa appeared clear and strong.

In fact, he set out for Africa (1857) with a Mazzian Missionary expedition.

But when the Mazza institute decided to withdraw from the mission, Daniel Comboni felt he needed to set up his own missionary institutes; the missionary institute for Africa (1867) and the Comboni Missionary Sisters (1872). Nominated Pro-vicar by the Holy See (1872) and then Vicar Apostolic (1877) of Central Africa, he led that vast and difficult mission with firmness and love until his death, which occurred in Khartoum (Sudan), at the age of fifty, on October 10, 1881. His widespread reputation for holiness, which continued after his death, led to the decision to open the informative process in Verona and Khartoum for the introduction of the Cause of Beatification and Canonization.

It can be said that throughout Comboni's life, in spite of grave difficulties, he hoped against every hope. Daniel Comboni was the first, in missionary history, to lay down the guidelines for an organic plan for the evangelization of Africa, it is the Plan for the regeneration of Africa, understood through an inspiration from heaven, while he was absorbed in deep prayer at St Peter's tomb in the Vatican Basilica. The hinge on which the theme of the plan is articulated is the idea of "saving Africa", of "Regenerating Africa through Africa itself'. Here it is not only a question of promoting the indigenous clergy. It is a question of putting Africans in a position to build the Church of Africa, a Church with an African face, with their own energies and talents.

Today the Comboni Missionaries work in 41 countries of Africa, Europe, America and Asia. They dedicate their lives to the proclamation of the Good News and to various activities of human promotion.

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