Gaetano Tantalo was born 3 February 1905 in Villavallelonga to Maria and Luciano Tantalo, and baptized nine days later. He survived falling into a lime pit at age six.. The following year, Gaetano entered the local school, where he demonstrated exceptional intellectual abilities. He showed an early interest in ecclesiastical life and discipline. At the age of seven, on 29 September 1912, he received his first communion and confirmation from Bishop Pio Marcello Bagnoli of Marsi. On the morning of 13 January 1915, the Marsican earthquake struck, burying Gaetano under the rubble of his school. He was seriously injured and was transported to Rome for treatment. A lifelong scar on his forehead commemorated this childhood event. He entered the Third Order of St. Francis. He devoted great attention to the spiritual development of children, especially those from poor families, whom he called "snowdrops." He provided financial assistance to their families, and did so tactfully, so that no one felt humiliated. In August 1940, he met members of the Orvieto and Pacifici families in
Magliano de' Marsi. The two Jewish families spent every summer there and had developed friendly relations with the local inhabitants, including the local priest. The latter introduced them to Tantalo. Cordial meetings were repeated in the summer of 1941 and 1942. Enrico Orvieto and Tantalo became friends. Life changed after the Italian surrender on 8 September 1943, and the Orvieto-Pacifici families fled to Magliano de' Marsi to avoid deportations during the Holocaust. When they no longer felt safe, they moved to the neighboring village of
Poggio Filippo. It was just 12 hours before German troops entered the area, establishing their headquarters in the former home of the two Jewish families in Magliano de' Marsi. Thus, remaining in Poggio Filippo also seemed risky. Enrico then decided to seek the help of Tantalo. When he arrived, however, his friend was not there, and he turned to Tantalo's sister, Domenica, and her husband, Adolfo d'Angelo, who hosted them for the night. The next day, Tantalo returned and was delighted to find his friend with his family. Despite the danger, he offered to host the Orvieto-Pacifici families—Mario Pacifici and his wife Gilda Borghi Pacifici, and Enrico Orvieto and his wife Giuditta Orvieto, with their children Gualtiero, Giuliano, and Natan Orvieto—in the rectory. Tantalo introduced them to his neighbors as relatives. During the nine months they were hosted in the rectory, Tantalo displayed genuine friendship, and was sensitive to their religious needs. He provided them with Bibles; greeted them with "Shabbat Shalom" every Friday evening; and helped them determine the dates of Jewish holidays according to the Jewish calendar, particularly Passover in 1944. For the Seder, he provided them with brand-new dishes and helped them find all the necessary ingredients. A small piece of
matzah baked from that Passover remained hidden among his belongings. After the liberation, in July 1944, the Orvieto-Pacifici families left the church of San Pietro in Tagliacozzo and returned to Rome.
Holocaust survivors, they always remained in close contact with Tantalo. When he suffered from lung disease, Giuditta Orvieto helped him obtain the best medical care. The priest died 13 November 1947. Bishop Biagio Vittorio Terrinoni of Marsi initiated the process of beatification for Tantalo. On 15 March 1980,
Pope John Paul II confirmed this process with the official declaration nihil obstat, proclaiming him a
servant of God. On 15 December 1994, the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints decided to recognize the priest's virtues as having reached a heroic degree. On 6 April 1995, John Paul II declared him Venerable. That autumn, he secretly visited the parish in Villavallelonga and prayed at the ascetic's tomb. The process of beatifying the priest is ongoing. Associations named after him, "Don Gaetano Tantalo," are based in Tagliacozzo and Villavallelonga. ==References==