Career
Smaldone was born in Naples in 1848 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1871. During his time in the seminary he began efforts to help the deaf of his native city. He also did work with the sick and nearly died of a plague.
He credited his survival to Our Lady of Pompeii.
In 1885 he founded an institution for the deaf at Lecce and went on to work with the blind as well and also orphans before dying at 75 from diabetes-related complications. Pope John Paul II proclaimed him as Venerable in 1995 and beatified Smaldone in 1996.
Pope Benedict XVI canonized him as a saint on 15 October 2006.
