Federico Trinchero was born in Casale Monferrato (AL) in 1978, the third and last child in a simple Christian family.
At age 12, he entered the Carmelite Seminary of Arenzano (GE) where he studied until completing his classical studies. In 1997 he entered the novitiate of the Discalced (barefoot) Carmelites of Liguria Varazze (SV); he studied philosophy and theology in Genoa; he made his solemn vows in Genoa in 2004 and his priestly ordination in 2006 in Arenzano (GE). From 2007 to 2009 he studied in Rome, where he obtained his license in Patristic Theology from the Augustinianum.
Since 2009, Trinchero has served at his order’s mission to Central African Republic; he spent four years at the Convent of St Elie of Bouar and since 2013 at the Convent of Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Bangui, the country’s capital. He has always worked in the education of Central African candidates for the religious life, in vocational accompaniment and teaching. Since 2011, he has been the Father maestro of students friars, dealing with training and guidance in the vocational phase after the novitiate until the final commitment of the solemn profession of the three vows. He teaches patristics and spirituality at the Grand Séminaire St. Marc in Bangui.
In 2013, due to the state of war that has overtaken the Central African Republic, his convent became a refugee camp, and in just a few short months, gained more than 10,000 residents. This clearly changed the life of the convent, but allowed them to live an extraordinary human and Christian adventure. They had to manage something that no one could have imagined, but above all they were forced to live the Gospel. Currently, the political situation of the country is notably better, due to both the visit of Pope Francis in November of 2015 and the newly elected President Touadera. The number of refugees still living at the convent is about 3500 persons. The adventure continues.