During the 19th century, a spirit of renewal led to the creation of four mission institutes in Italy:
1. In 1850, Angelo Ramazotti founded the Milan Seminary of Foreign Missions in Saronno, which was relocated to Milan in 1851. Its members (priests and laypersons) committed themselves by pledge (later by oath) to a lifelong dedication to missionary work. They were active in Oceania (1852), Central Bengal (1855), Hong Kong (1858), and China (1870). In 1926, Pope Pius XI merged the Pontificio Seminar…