Gaetano Catanoso was born in 1879 into to prosperous landoweners in Reggio Calabria as the third of eight children to Antonio Catanoso and Antonia Tripodi [REF].
In October 1889 he began his studies for the priesthood and he arrived with his father in the evening for him to be admitted into it though he had to return home several times due to bouts of ill health.