He and his brother helped in the rescue and reconstruction efforts following the violent earthquake that struck Messina on 28 December 1908 . On 28 February 1912 the archbishop Letterio D'Arrigo Ramondini appointed him as the archdiocesan vicar general in a move that meant he had curial responsibilities to manage and which saw him work closer to the archbishop . But he still managed to go around preaching and hearing confessions despite the increased workload
the violent earthquake
1908 Messina earthquake
Francesco Maria di Francia