The School that existed in the Seminary of Bedonia from 1846 to 1981 turned out many cultured men for the Valleys of the Taro and the Ceno: more than 600 Priests, six Bishops and two Cardinals, who became well known on an international level: Luigi Poggi, and Agostino Casaroli, Secretary of State to the Vatican from 1979 to 1990. The photographic and documented archive of the latter is at the disposal of the Association of the “Centro Studi Cardinale Agostino Casaroli” thanks to his niece, Orietta Casaroli.
The Association, founded in 1989, has its headquarters inside the Seminary, where a permanent exhibition has been set up of photographs, documents and objects belonging to the Cardinal. The Study Centre is involved with students from various universities to allow the use of these materials for research, theses, both for first degrees and for doctorates; it also promotes studies concerning local History and Culture.
www.cardinalcasaroli.it
There are also some personal mementoes of Mons. Bruno Bertagna, a native of Tiedoli, Borgotaro and Ex-Student of the Seminary, and some antique volumes from his private library. Distinguishing himself at the Holy See he was assigned two important commissions: General Secretary to the Governorship of the Vatican State and Vice-President of the Papal Council for Legal Texts.
The Association of the Centre of Studies has also received “The Documentation Fund of Cardinal Opilio Rossi” born in 1910 in New York. His family had emigrated from Scopolo, Bedonia. A permanent exhibition dedicated to him has been set up and it can be used for research. A room next door has been set aside for this purpose.