Francesco della Penna

Francesco Orazio Olivieri della Penna (1680—July 20, 1745) was a Capuchin missionary to Tibet who became prefect of the Tibetan Mission.

Born in Pennabilli, Della Penna entered the Capuchin monastery of Pietrarubbia. While he was there, a decree by the Sacra Congregazione di Propaganda Fide declared the establishment of a Catholic mission “"in the direction of the source of the Ganges River, towards the kingdom of Tibet.” [it icon [http://www.montefeltro.net/pennabilli/tibeteng.htm The visit of the Dalai Lama - Pennabilli (PS-Italy) ] ] Della Penna was amongst those selected, and he arrived in Lhasa on June 12, 1707. He returned to Rome after the penniless and starving missionaries decided to reorganize their efforts; he returned to Lhasa in 1716. Della Penna studied the Tibetan language and culture at the monastery of Sera under a Lama. During his stay, Della Penna began composing a Tibetan-Italian dictionary. By 1732, the dictionary composed about 33,000 words. He also translated some important Tibetan works. He translated into Tibetan Bellarmine's "Christian Doctrine" and Thurlot's "Treasure of Christian Doctrine". [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14718a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Tibet ] ] From Tibetan into Italian, he translated the "History of the life and works of Shakiatuba, the restorer of Lamaism", "Three roads leading to perfection", and "On transmigration and prayer to God". [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14718a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Tibet ] ] A Tibetan printing works was eventually built during Della Penna's stay. [it icon [http://www.montefeltro.net/pennabilli/tibeteng.htm The visit of the Dalai Lama - Pennabilli (PS-Italy) ] ]

Della Penna returned to Rome in 1736 to seek help and support there. He received it from the Spanish prelate Cardinal Belluga and Della Penna arrived in Lhasa on January 6, 1741.

Della Penna was well-liked in Tibet; he was called the “white head Lama” [it icon [http://www.montefeltro.net/pennabilli/tibeteng.htm The visit of the Dalai Lama - Pennabilli (PS-Italy) ] ] and was respected for his learning and knowledge of Tibetan culture and language. However, he ran into problems he did not foresee when the seventh Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso, granted him and his fellow missionaries freedom of worship and proselytism. After twenty Tibetan men and women were converted to Christianity, they refused to accept the Dalai Lama's blessing and to take part in the obligatory lamaistic prayers. [it icon [http://www.montefeltro.net/pennabilli/tibeteng.htm The visit of the Dalai Lama - Pennabilli (PS-Italy) ] ] After a long trial on the 22d of May 1742, five Christian Tibetans were flogged after a long trial on May 22, 1742. Della Penna was given an audience with the Dalai Lama but the mission’s fate was sealed. He set off for Nepal in 1745, but died at Patan on July 20, 1745.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.montefeltro.net/pennabilli/tibeteng.htm Elio Marini, “The story of Father Orazio della Penna”]