Nicola Mazza was a 19th-century Italian Catholic priest and educator from Verona who focused on missionary work and educational equality. Known as "Don Congo" due to his lifelong commitment to evangelizing Central Africa, he never traveled to the continent himself but instead organized several missionary expeditions. Throughout his career, he served as a teacher for more than thirty years, advocating for better educational access regardless of a student's economic background. His influence extended to many prominent religious figures, including Daniele Comboni, whom he helped prepare for missionary service.