Antonio Bello

Antonio Bello (18 March 1935 – 20 April 1993) was an Italian Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi from 1982 until his death from cancer in 1993. Bello studied in various colleges and seminaries in places such as Bologna and Rome before being named to several positions in his region where he served as a priest. He was later made a bishop and became known for his eloquent teaching and for his pastoral sensitivities while being noted for his emphasis on greater diocesan participation on the part of the faithful. his remains were buried in the Cimitero Comunale di Alessano after his funeral held on 24 April. His last public appearance was in a wheelchair in the diocesan cathedral for the chrism Mass on 8 April which he spoke at. He was fatigued after the Mass due to the aggravating nature of his disease. On 18 March 2015 the Capuchin friars in Giovinazzo inaugurated a state dedicated to Bello in the presence of the late bishop's brother Marcello.

Beatification process

The beatification process opened under Pope Benedict XVI on 27 November 2007 after the Congregation for the Causes of Saints issued the official "nihil obstat" (no objections to the cause) edict and titled Bello as a Servant of God. The diocesan bishop for Molfetta later issued an edict on 20 April 2008 which introduced the diocesan investigation which was opened on 30 April 2010; this investigation was later closed on 30 November 2013. The C.C.S. in Rome later validated the investigation on 17 April 2015. Pope Francis confirmed Bello's heroic virtue and awarded him the title Venerable on 25 November 2021.

The first postulator for this cause until 2014 was Archbishop Agostino Superbo and the first vice-postulator until 2014 was Monsignor Domenico Amato. The current postulator for the cause (since 21 June 2014) is Monsignor Luigi M. de Palma and the relator for the cause (appointed on 26 June 2015 and who is assigned to draft the Positio dossier) is Fr. Maurizio Tagliaferri.