Enzo Bianchi, prior of Bose

 Enzo_Bianchi_ITA_ENG_FRA_2012_june

Enzo Bianchi was born in Castel Boglione (AT), Monferrato, on 3 March 1943. After his studies in economics at the University of Turin, in 1965 he moved to Bose, a small village outside the town of Magnano, on the moraine ridge between Ivrea and Biella, where he thought to start a monastic community. In 1968 br. Enzo was joined by the first brothers and sisters and during this time he wrote the community rule. He is still the prior of the community, which numbers about eighty members, men and women coming from five different countries. The community is also present in Jerusalem (Israel), Ostuni (Apulia, Italy), and Assisi (Perugia, Italy).

In 1983 he started the community publishing house Edizioni Qiqajon, which publishes texts on biblical, patristic, and monastic spirituality. IN 2000 he was granted a honoris causa degree in Church history by the University of Turin. In August 2003 he was one of the members of the official delegation requested by pope John Paul II to return the icon of the Mother of God of Kazan to the patriarch of Moscow, Alexis II. In October 2008 he attended the synod of the Roman Catholic bishops on the theme of the Word of God as a special expert appointed by pope Benedict XVI. In 2009 he was awarded the "Prize Cesare Pavese" and "Prize Angelini" for his book Il pane di ieri.

At present Enzo Bianchi is:

• Member of the Académie Internationale des Sciences Religieuses (Bruxelles)
• Member of the International Council of Christians and Jews (London)
• Member of the editorial commitee of the international theological journal Concilium
• Member of the editorial commitee of the biblical journal Parola Spirito e Vita, of which he has been director until 2005
• Member of the executive board of the Catholic committee for the cultural cooperation of the Pontifical council for promoting Christian unity.

Enzo Bianchi regularly writes articles for:

• the newspapers La Stampa, La Repubblica, Avvenire

• the monthly review Jesus

• the French magazines Panorama and La Vie, besides the French newspaper La Croix.  

• He is also a collaborator and advisor for the radio broadcasts Uomini e profeti (Rai Radiotre) and Ascolta si fa sera (Rai Radiouno).

 Enzo_Bianchi_ITA_ENG_FRA_2012_june