Francesco Orazio della Penna | |
|---|---|
 Epitaph in Latin andNepal Bhasa on the tombstone of Della Penna who was buried inPatan, Nepal. | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Luzio Olivieri (1680-11-00)November , 1680 |
| Died | July 1745(1745-07-00) (aged 64) |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Institute | Order of Friars Minor Capuchin |
| Senior posting | |
| Period in office | 1700–1745 |
Francesco Orazio della Penna (1680 – July 20, 1745), born Luzio Olivieri, was aCapuchinmissionary toTibet who becameprefect of theTibetan Mission.
Born inPennabilli, Della Penna entered the Capuchin monastery ofPietrarubbia. While he was there, a decree by theSacra Congregazione di Propaganda Fide declared the establishment of a Catholic mission "in the direction of the source of theGanges River, towards the kingdom of Tibet."[1] Della Penna was amongst those selected, and he arrived inLhasa on June 12, 1707. He returned toRome after the penniless and starving missionaries decided to reorganize their efforts; he returned to Lhasa in 1716. Della Penna studied theTibetan language andculture at the monastery ofSera under aLama.
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 TibetanBellarmine'sChristian Doctrine andTurlot'sTreasure of Christian Doctrine.[2] From Tibetan into Italian, he translated theHistory of the life and works of Shakiatuba, the restorer of Lamaism,Three roads leading to perfection, andOn transmigration and prayer to God.[3] A Tibetanprinting works was eventually built during Della Penna's stay.[4]
Della Penna returned to Rome in 1736 to seek help and support there. He received it from theSpanish prelateCardinal 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"[5] and was respected for his learning and knowledge of Tibetan culture and language. However, he ran into problems he did not foresee when the seventhDalai Lama,Kelsang Gyatso, granted him and his fellow missionaries freedom of worship and proselytism. After twenty Tibetan men and women were converted toChristianity, they refused to accept the Dalai Lama's blessing and to take part in the obligatory Buddhist prayers.[6] After a long trial on the 22d of May 1742, five Christian Tibetans wereflogged. Della Penna was given an audience with the Dalai Lama but the mission's fate was sealed. He set off forNepal in 1745, but died atPatan on July 20, 1745.
