Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Portici, Campania, Italy
About Marcello Candia
- Marcello Candia (1916-1983) was an Italian Roman Catholic industrialist and entrepreneur who became active in the missions in Brazil.
- He worked to protect Jewish people during World War II and was involved in preventing their deportation by the creation of new documents that would save the Italkim lives by making pass them as non-Jewish Italians, in particular for kids by hiding them in homes and industries or helping them to safety relocate to the UK or America. In 1950, at his father's death and at WWII end, Marcello Candia assumed full management of his family chemical industrial factory headquartered in Milan with full control of its operation across Italy.
- After experiencing the world devastation of WWII, Marcello developed a deep awareness for the plight of the poor people, concern that prompted him to sell his factory in 1964 (creating a rift with his younger brother Riccardo) and moved to Brazil to assist the people in need living in the Amazones.
- It was in Brazil that he worked for the needs of the poor as he was dedicated to social justice initiatives and supported the work of the local charities.
- Candia was subject to suspicion in the beginning since there were those missionaries who were confused at someone from a rich background coming to serve the poor as a poor man.
- He shrugged off those suspicions and considered himself a disciple of the poor who wished to alleviate their suffering and social conditions.His main concern was the construction of a hospital in Macapá, Brazil, to be managed for the assistance of the poor, the construction started in 1961 and concluding at the decade's end when it was inaugurated in 1971.
- He also opened a center outside the town he lived in for the lepers and began working with them until the end of his life.
- Candia's health grew worse over time despite his exhaustive work standards which led to several health crises leading to his death back in his native homeland where he had made annual visits.
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