When the Servant of God Marco Gallo died at the age of 17, he carried in his wallet a small image of the Virgin of Medjugorje, a childhood photo of himself eating a Nutella sandwich, five euros, and a handwritten note containing a “promise”:
“Today, I promise that—with immense desire and unwavering strength, as if this were the last day of my life and I were choosing to whom to dedicate my day and my life—I will open myself to the search for the Mystery, with discernment and respect for everything that reality places before me, even if it proves arduous. I depend only on the Mystery.”
An “ordinary” teenager who lived a short yet deeply meaningful life, Marco was passionate about sports and the mountains. He read the Bible daily, frequently received the sacraments, and was always ready to help those in need—especially those who were alone.
Based on his life and virtues, the Archbishop of Milan, Mario Delpini, opened the beatification cause for the young Italian on March 7, 2026.
Born in Chiavari on March 7, 1994, Marco grew up in a deeply devout Catholic family. He had two sisters, and his parents were members of the Communion and Liberation movement. In 1999, the family moved to Lecco, where he completed his primary and secondary education and received his First Communion and Confirmation.
In 2007, he began attending the “Don Gnocchi” Scientific High School, where he quickly became a role model among his peers. He organized volunteer initiatives and offered tutoring to fellow students.
“His leadership, lived with joyful faith, testifies that following Jesus is the source of true happiness,” reads the Edict for the Cause, written by Father Marco Gianola, Episcopal Delegate for the process.
One of Marco’s classmates recalled that everyone felt important in his presence:
“It was as if you were the only person in the world to him.”
In an interview with the Marian magazine Maria con te, Marco’s mother, Paola Cevasco, shared that her son “loved life, asked deep questions, and above all, had discovered the source of true joy in loving Jesus and his neighbor.”
On November 5, 2011, while on his way to school, Marco was struck by a car and died. Yet something striking had happened the night before: written on the wall of his room, beside his San Damiano cross, were the words:
“Why do you seek among the dead the one who is alive?”
Marco's bedroom wall:
For his mother, that message became a source of consolation:
“That phrase helped us understand that my son was not lost—that he did not disappear into nothingness. We could not have endured his death if God had not given us the grace to understand that death is not the end—that we are waiting for true life.”
Marco’s funeral was held on November 7, 2011, at Monza Cathedral. Rooted in a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, his family honors his memory each year with a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro—a journey they made together many times during his life.
Each year, hundreds of people join the pilgrimage, with the number of young participants steadily growing.
May Marco’s witness inspire us to love God and our neighbor more deeply.