Don Antonio Mazzi, priest, educator and founder of the Exodus Foundation — the organization he created that grew over the years into a leading reference point for the recovery of people struggling with drug addiction and social hardship — has died at the age of 96.
Don Mazzi passed away today at his longtime home within Parco Lambro, in Milan. News of his death was confirmed by the Exodus Foundation, which announced the passing of its founder.
Throughout his long career, Don Antonio Mazzi devoted his life to welcoming, educating and helping reintegrate thousands of young people in difficulty, promoting a model grounded in personal responsibility, work and solidarity. His commitment made him one of the best-known figures in the world of Italian volunteering and social outreach.
His death marks the end of a long era of civic and religious dedication that left a deep mark on the world of care and rehabilitation for society’s most vulnerable people.
