Saint of the Day – 12 October – Saint Rodobaldo II Cipolla of Pavia (Died 1254)

Saint of the Day – 12 October – Saint Rodobaldo II Cipolla of Pavia (Died 1254) Bishop of Pavia from 1230 to his death, apostle of the poor. Rodobaldo was the 53rd bishop of Pavia. Archdeacon of the Cathedral, he was elected in 1230 and Consecrated by Pope Gregory IX. St Roboaldo II is remembered as a zealous shepherd and for his intense charitable activity. Together with the Pope he preached the crusade against Frederick II, which earned him prison – he was jailed in Pisa. Then he worked to reconcile the Emperor with Innocent IV. He died in 1254. The relics are kept in the Cathedral of Pavia. He is also known as Cipolla of Pavia.

San Rodobaldo II Cipolla of Pavia is a Bishop who lived in the 13th century. In the chronotaxis of the Bishops of Pavia it is placed in fifty-third place, after San Folco Scotti and before Guglielmo da Caneto. It is indicated with the second appellation, as among the bishops before him there is a Rodobaldo de ‘Sangiorgio, who ruled the Diocese in the second decade of the thirteenth century.

In the Verona hagiographic publication, it is stated that he was born in Verona; belonging to the Cipolla family, who before being elected to lead the Diocese held the office of Archdeacon of the Cathedral chapter.

In 1233 he founded the Company of the Holy Spirit in Pavia and brought the Franciscan friars, Vallombrosan and Dominican monks to the diocese. Among the latter he became a friend of St ‘Isnardo di Vicenza, to whom, it is said, he donated the monastery of San Tommaso Apostolo.

Subsequently, he took an active part in the mediation of peace, working towards the reconciliation between the Emperor and the new Pontiff, Innocent IV.
He died in Pavia on 12 October 1254 and since 1279 his body has been placed in the crypt of the City Cathedral of St Siro.
His cult as a saint was confirmed by Pope Leo XIII with a decree of 20 December 1888.

In the Roman martyrology, with the words – “In Pavia, St Rodobaldo II, bishop, man of exemplary spirit of penance, who worked hard for the divine worship and in the search for the relics of the saints.”