Paolo Manna

Paolo Manna (16 January 1872 – 15 September 1952) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and a member from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions as well as the founder of the Pontifical Missionary Union. Manna worked in the missions in Burma and even served as the Superior General for PIME. Manna did much in his life to promote the missions and the evangelic and apostolic zeal that accompanied it and he established newspapers and movements to help promote this charismatic apostolate. He also held several leadership positions in PIME and used that standing in order to further engage with prospective missionaries.

Manna's beatification cause started on 23 August 1973 under Pope Paul VI in which he was titled as a Servant of God while Pope John Paul II both named him as Venerable in 1989 and beatified him in 2001.

Life Paolo Manna was born on 16 January 1872 in Avellino as the fifth of six children to Vincenzo Manna and Lorenza Ruggiero. Two uncles were priests as was an older brother; one uncle was stationed in Naples and the other was in Avellino at the church of San Stefano del Sole.

Publications Manna wrote a number of books and booklets. His proposals regarding work in the missions anticipated the developments at the Second Vatican Council more so the declarations "Ad Gentes" 2: 39. He spent his entire life promoting the missions while at the same time opposing all forms of cultural imperialism.

Manna published: Missionari autem Pauci The Separated Brethren (1941) Apostolic Virtues (1943)