Antonio Mazzi, the Catholic priest who founded the Exodus drug rehabilitation network that grew into one of Italy's largest addiction recovery organizations, died Thursday at age 96 at his home in Milan's Lambro Park, his family confirmed.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella expressed condolences following the death. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala declared a day of civic mourning for Monday, when funeral rites will be held at the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio. A wake opened Saturday at the Milan church, with private burial planned at the Maguzzano Abbey in Brescia.
Born in Verona in 1929, Mazzi established Exodus in 1984, building roughly 40 rehabilitation centers across Italy before it became a foundation by presidential decree in 1996. He also gained national prominence co-hosting the television program Domenica In and launched international charity initiatives in Madagascar and Patagonia.