Joseph Cafasso was a 19th-century Italian priest and social reformer from Turin who became known as the "Priest of the Gallows." Born in 1811, he dedicated his life to the spiritual guidance of others, serving as a mentor to several founders of religious institutions, including Saint John Bosco. Despite a frail constitution and a deformed spine, he practiced intense personal austerity and was deeply committed to the formation of clergy. He is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church and serves as a patron for prisoners.