Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
De Francesco, Vincenzo

Missionary, chaplain, provincial; born Messercola, Caserta, Italy, 23 November 1885; died Naples, 20 October 1974, aged 88.

De Francesco entered the Society at the Villa Melecrinis, 1 October 1900. He completed studies in literature and went to Acireale, Sicily, for philosophy. He taught and was a prefect at the College 'Sozi-Carafa di Vico Equense', and studied theology at Posillipo. During 1919-20 he was engaged in military service. After tertianship at Posillipo, he was sent to Australia, arriving 23 October 1920, and resided in the parish of Richmond, Victoria, until 1931. During that time he had special care of the Italian community in Victoria, and also did parish work.

He had been lent to the Australian mission, and was a man of great strength and vitality, untiringly energetic and unfailingly cheerful, and greatly loved and trusted by the Italians. He was a tall, thin Jesuit, with pronounced cheekbones, a limpid look, big gestures, a soft voice, sincere, talkative and happy. Young people especially enjoyed his company, engaged by his simple statements and affectionate manner. He was like an old friend who converses with ease.

The Italian community in Melbourne spoke little or no English, was not well educated, had no social welfare agency, and was isolated from the larger community. At first, De Francesco was not welcomed with open arms by the community, who treated him with suspicion and indifference. They did not want to be reminded of their religious obligations by a priest. However, this did not last, and the Italians began to realise that De Francesco was an asset. He wrote a booklet, A Little Guide for the Italians in Australia, which contained prayers, and useful information for newly arrived immigrants.

By 1922 De Francesco estimated that there were 300-400 families in his care. In 1925 he helped organise a mission and about 400 people attended, many returning to religious practice. As many of his people began to be followers of Mussolini, De Francesco too, associated with fascist activities. However, a more extreme group of anarchists and communists, the Club Matteotti, which was anti-fascist, caused him some concern. De Francesco did not appear to have had any special political inclinations; he was primarily concerned with the pastoral needs of the Italian community. For his work he was awarded, in 1933, the Knighthood of the Italian Crown.

He was so successful that later he was appointed provincial of Naples. When asked for informationes by the superior general on De Francesco, the Australian vice-provincial, John Fahy, wrote that he was 'a man of great edification, given to prayer, obedient, humble, willingly listens to the advice of others, loving to all, mortified, loving poverty; above all he labours strenuously for the salvation of souls...He exercises sound judgment, does not hesitate; and is endowed with practical wisdom...gifted, and both prudent and discreet; circumspect in speaking...He understands the Institute well and loves it dearly. His love of the Society is outstanding...He is a man of rectitude with the greatest sincerity and candor.' This, surely, must be someone near to human perfection. John Fahy rarely gave such praise.

A man judged by his Italian brethren to have little knowledge of men and things, De Francesco was not sure that he was the best man for the office of provincial. With his frank and open character, and his happy disposition, it did not seem that he had the carefulness, discretion and diplomacy that was required of his new role. However, he was not a failure. His administration was in order, and he fulfilled his office with the qualities attributed to him by John Fahy. The Italians admired his common sense, good heart, and strong spirituality. He seemed to be a man united with God. He did not enjoy his term of office and asked to be relieved after three years. He was then appointed to the Neapolitan Church of St Chiara.

He was happy to return to pastoral work in 1938. Then the war years began. Naples was one of the cities that suffered the most. One lived with the constant sound of the air raid siren. The windows of the Church in Naples were all shattered. Whole nights were spent in shelters, provisions became difficult to obtain, and De Francesco did not know where to turn. However, during it all, he was able to keep calm and did not lose hope. On 4 August 1943 part of the Church was bombed. He welcomed the advent of the allies and engaged in pastoral work among them because of his command of English. Re-construction of the parish Church became an important task.

His parish work was interrupted in 1948 when he tended to the needs of workmen at the Ritiri di Perseveranza. Then he resumed work in the parish, with special work hearing confessions. People of every class and type visited him, and he always visited the sick. He was hard working and full of understanding.

During this time he was given the role as Vice Postulate of the Venerable Giuseppe Moscati's cause for canonisation.

After 17 years in Naples, he was sent to Puglia. He visited Bari and Taranto first, and later went to Grottaglie. In 1960 he was also superior. He left this office in 1965 at the age of 80. He returned to Naples and parish work, helping the sick and suffering. He even visited his home town, Messercola, to help the villagers in S Maria a Vico. In his later years he suffered from sclerosis of the brain that affected his mental condition and caused great pain. Death was a blessed release for the man who had given so much for so long to those he served.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)