Let us pray for the repose of the soul of this beloved small town priest!
In a shocking tragedy for the small town of Cannobio, Italy, 35-year-old priest Father Matteo Balzano took his own life.
According to this social media post by Irish priest Fr Grant Ciccone, Father Balzano “was found lifeless in his residence” on July 5, 2025.
“His absence at morning Mass and silence raised alarm, deeply shocking a community that knew him as devoted, joyful, and ever-present in his ministry among young people.”
Father Ciccone said the Italian priest was ordained in 2017.
Here is Father Ciccone’s full X post:
“A tragic event has shaken the small town of Cannobio, overlooking the beautiful Lake Verbano. On the morning of July 5, 2025, Father Matteo Balzano, a 35-year-old priest of the Diocese of Novara, was found lifeless in his residence, he had taken his own life. His absence at morning Mass and silence raised alarm, deeply shocking a community that knew him as devoted, joyful, and ever-present in his ministry among young people.
Ordained in 2017 and originally from Borgomanero, Fr. Matteo’s death highlights a painful truth: many priests, though seen as spiritual rocks, quietly carry emotional burdens, loneliness, and pressure few can imagine. The Church in Italy has begun taking steps to accompany priests with spiritual and psychological support, but this tragedy reminds us that more still needs to be done. Let us lift up Father Matteo in our prayers, and entrust him to the infinite mercy of God, who sees even the hidden wounds and forgives all. May you Rest in Peace my brother.
Here is another news report of Father Matteo Balzano’s tragic death:
Prayer for the Eternal Rest of Father Matteo Balzano
“Eternal rest grant unto Father Matteo Balzano, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
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