"If I die for a hundred others, I am reborn a hundred times: God is with me, and I am not afraid!"  

These were the words of Salvo D'Acquisto (1920–1943), a vice brigadier in the Italian Carabinieri. His name has recently returned to the spotlight as Pope Francis announced his intention to beatify him. Through this recognition, the Church acknowledges a deceased person's earthly virtues and deep faith in God, granting them full union with the Lord in heaven and the ability to intercede on behalf of those who pray to them. While not officially declared a saint, a beatified individual is recognized as a person of exceptional faith who distinguished themselves through righteous actions in God's name, particularly in service to the weak.  

This perspective is essential in understanding the life and ultimate sacrifice of the young Salvo D'Acquisto. Born in Naples, Salvo demonstrated from an early age a serious character, which contrasted with his great kindness and deep devotion to God. His faith was confirmed at 18 when he voluntarily enlisted in 1939, at the outbreak of World War II, joining the Carabinieri Corps in Rome after attending military school. He was deployed to Africa in 1941 and, through his dedication, earned the rank of vice brigadier in 1942.  

By 1943, as the Italian Campaign began and internal resistance against the Germans intensified, a group of German paratroopers had set up camp in an abandoned barracks near Rome. Within the building, old hand grenades unexpectedly detonated, killing two German soldiers and injuring others. The German commander, refusing to believe D’Acquisto’s assertion that the explosion was an accident, ordered his unit to find those responsible, threatening a brutal reprisal against local civilians.  

The following day, mass arrests were carried out, and D’Acquisto was taken alongside 22 innocent civilians to be executed. In an extraordinary act of self-sacrifice, he took full responsibility for the explosion, securing the release of the hostages and saving their lives at the cost of his own. This heroic act of selflessness earned him a posthumous Medal of Valor and the recognition from the Pope for beatification.