SAINTLY PHYSICIST

 

In the previous Blog ( 3/8), we mentioned a man who worked with Venerable Luigina Sinapi. Another layman, whose work and prayer fits our lenten theme of Hope, is  VENERABLE ENRICO MEDI, who was born in 1911 in Porto Recanati.  He was a well-known physicist with a degree in theology as well.  He was a man of culture and science, of hope and faith with a great love for the Eucharist, as well as his family. He married Enrica Zanini, also a scientist, with whom he had six daughters.

He studied physics under Nobel Prize winner Enrico Fermi, graduating in Terrestrial Physics in 1932. He then began a career as a university professor, while at the same time embracing politics. 

Supporting Pope Pius XII's efforts to help the poor in the post-war period, he joined the Christian Democratic Party, and was elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1946, then as a deputy in 1948. He then resumed his scientific career, teaching at the University of Rome before becoming vice-president of Euratom, the European nuclear organization.

He also received prestigious positions from the world of science such as President of the National Institute of Geophysics (1949), holder of the Chair of Terrestrial Physics at the University of Rome (1952), and was Vice-President of Euratom in Brussels (1958-1965), where he counseled the peaceful use of nuclear energy. He did scientific commentary on TV, dealing with creation, nature and its laws, discreetly, but effectively, incorporating the thee of faith. 

 His heroism and charity was exemplified in 1943 during World War II when he offered his own life to save two men condemned to be shot. They were spared and his life was not taken.

With a very intense life of prayer and daily communion, he was a true witness to the Gospel of Christ.  A brilliant and cultured orator, he held spiritual conferences throughout Italy, invited by many Bishops.

In 1966 he was appointed by the Holy See as a member of the Council of the Laity. Very important was his meeting with St. Pio of Pietrelcina, of whom he was a spiritual son, and to whom he gave advice to improve the services in the House for the Relief of Suffering.

 In 1970 he also fought against divorce that had been introduced in Italy and in 1971 he agreed to run for Mayor in the Municipality of Rome. In 1972 he was elected again as a Member of Parliament. He took part in a program for the popularization of science for many years, took part in the government of Vatican City at the request of Pope St.Paul VI, then returned to the Chamber of Deputies, taking a strong stand against the law allowing divorce. Pope St.John Paul II often cited him as "a model politician and Christian scientist".

He died of cancer in May of 1974 in Rome, with a great reputation for holiness.