Ponderable Quote — ‘The Roaring Lion: Father Leo Rizzo, a Calabrian Priest in the American Civil War’ by Peter L. Belmonte

The late 19th century was an era of mass migration from Southern Italy to the United States. Father Leo was indeed, a pioneer of that exodus, leading the way by more than twenty years. The newcomers were mostly poor laborers, and they often faced struggles in their new country. Father Leo exhibited his concern for Italian immigrants as well as his opinion of the newly united Italy in the wake of violent crime. On June 22, 1887, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Philip Palladoni, a twenty-four year-old immigrant from Southern Italy, killed his brother Francesco during an argument over twenty-nine dollars Philip had loaned Francesco for his passage to the United States. Palladoni was arrested and tried for the crime. During the trial, Palladoni “displayed a most revengeful spirit and his language was something shocking.” Even after his death sentence in September 1887, Palladoni’s behavior remained defiant and his language “ribald.” Father Leo ministered to the condemned man, and this resulted in “a small degree of improvement” in his demeanor and speech. As soon as the death watch was placed upon the prisoner, Father Leo celebrated mass “for the repose of the condemned’s soul [sic].” According to one report, “under the priest’s care, Palladoni became trifle more subdued, although at times when Father Leo was not present, he still indulged in much profanity and foul language.”

Father Leo spent most daylight hours with Palladoni in the days leading up to his execution. His attendance had a calming effect on Palladoni. On October 4, 1888, the day before his date with the gallows, Palladoni met with Father Leo as usual. After Leo left Palladoni's cell at about 9 o'clock at night, Palladoni retired. Awakening a little past midnight, Palladoni called for Father Leo who came to him and escorted the prisoner to the chapel where they prayed the rosary for an hour. Palladoni again went to bed, and at 5:22 a.m. Father Leo entered Palladoni's cell to wake him up. Father Leo had a "passive and generous countenance." Attired in his "long, severely plain cassock, drawn in the waist with a white cord, [Father Leo] made a striking contrast with the group.” Palladoni got dressed, and Father Leo asked him how he felt. Palladoni replied that he felt well, and the two men went to the chapel where Father Leo administered the last rites with "due impressiveness." After joining in devotions with Father Leo, Palladoni returned to his cell where the sheriff read the death warrant to him; Father Leo interpreted it "slowly and clearly" for Palladoni.

After this Father Leo gave vent to his feelings in an address to the crowd of reporters, saying:

You of the press should advocate that there be no capital punishment. This should be the last one, and I hope to God it will be. May the laws of Connecticut be sealed with this Italian’s blood. If Victor Emmanuel [King of Italy] had never invaded Italy [in order to unify it] that nation would be a happy and prosperous one to-day and her sons would not have been driven to this strange land. Italy is a ruined country. Oh, you do not understand what it is. There are two Italians in the cell next to Palladoni for fighting. They tell a sad story of Italy. The death of Palladoni may serve as a warning to the Italians not to use knives or pistols. I hope it will.

The statement, as reported, should not be interpreted as primarily a disparagement of the United States or its treatment of immigrants. Rather it is more an indictment of the unification of Italy and the resultant political, economic, and social forces that sent Father Leo’s countrymen far-off lands in order to survive. Father Leo was not alone in this assessment of the Italian government’s culpability in the plight of her emigrants.

* The Roaring Lion: Father Leo Rizzo, a Calabrian Priest in the American Civil War, Peter L. Belmonte, independently published, 2020, pp.114-116