Vincent Pallotti was born in Rome on 21 April 1795, to Pietro and Magdalena De Rossi Pallotti. He was descended from the noble families of the Pallotti of Norcia and the De Rossi of Rome. His early studies were made at the Pious Schools of San Pantaleone, and from there he passed to the Roman College. At the age of sixteen, he resolved to become a priest and was ordained on 16 May 1818. Shortly thereafter he earned a doctorate in theology. Pallotti is described as small in stature, slight of build, with big blue eyes and penetrating glance.
He was given an assistant professorship at the Sapienza University but resigned it soon after to devote himself to pastoral work. Pallotti worked selflessly looking after the poor in the urban areas of the city for most of his life. He organized schools for shoemakers, tailors, coachmen, carpenters, and gardeners so that they could better work at their trade, as well as evening classes for young farmers and unskilled workers. He soon became known as a “second Saint Philip Neri”. He once dressed up as an old woman to hear the confession of a man who threatened “to kill the first priest who came through the door”.
God had given Vincent the ability to know even the mysteries of the human heart.
He voluntarily undertook the special mission of prison inmates, especially those sentenced to death. The saint stood in prayer near the gallows of those sentenced to be hanged until the moment of their death. Biographers record that in his presence, even those who were branded as great sinners repented. In addition to this, he had selected a number of people for the prison ministry and specially trained them.
He sincerely wished that all men in this world should know the Lord and become holy and work hard for it. With the goal of global evangelization, he formed a community of Catholic missionaries, including priests and brethren. In 1853 the group was recognized as the Pallotins.
In 1850, Vincent ascended to heaven. The saint had already announced the exact date of his death. In 1963, Vincent Pallotti was canonized by Pope John XXIII.