His paternal grandfather was a native of Nicholas Mandic Poljica in the Archdiocese of Split (Split), where his ancestors - "Bosnian lords" - had come from Bosnia, back in the fifteenth century.
As a boy, Bogdan demonstrated a strong character, but he also turned in a strong piety, nobility of spirit and commitment to the school. Soon he felt led to religious life.
At that time Castelnovo in providing their services for the PP. Capuchins of the Province of Venice, and Bogdan reached the decision to join the Order of the Capuchins. He was received in the first seminar of Udine seraphic and then, eighteen, May 2, 1884 - Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza) - he took the religious habit, getting the new name between Leopold and committing themselves to the rule and
the spirit of s. Francis of Assisi. He continued his philosophical and theological studies in Padua and Venice, where - in the Basilica of Our Lady of Health - was ordained priest, 20 September 1890.
Since 1887, between Leopold had felt called several times and "clearly", to promote the union of the separated Eastern Christians with the Catholic Church. But how to make this call? Because the slender physique and a speech impediment, he could not devote himself to preaching. I therefore sent him to a greater service to souls, as a minister of reconciliation. He was the confessor in various cities: Venice, Zara, Bassano del Grappa, Thiene to the shrine of Our Lady of the Elm and, since October 1909, in Padua. In 1923 he was transferred to Fiume (Rijeka), but after a few weeks, at the repeated request of Padua, was ordered to return to their city, where he remained until his death, July 30, 1942.
There, in his narrow cell-religious penitents continued to receive many, listening patiently, encouraging and comforting, bringing the peace of God in souls and sometimes even getting through the temporal order. During the cold winter and sweltering summer without vacations, plagued by various illnesses, he remained in service until the last day of souls, becoming a martyr of the confessional.
All this, however, he was always keeping in mind what he himself considered the primary mission of his life: that is, being useful to his people and union of the Churches. As they could not give the apostolate among the separated brethren East, pledged to vote several times repeated, to be all things - prayers, suffering, ministry, life - to this end. Therefore, in every soul who asked his ministry, he decided to see his "East."
But for all this in him was less a desire to serve his people with a physical presence. He said one day to a friend: "Please Mistress Blessed me the favor of that, having accomplished my mission in Padua, to bring my poor bones among my people for the good of souls. From Padua, for now , there's no way you can escape, they want me here, but I'm like a bird in a cage, my heart is always beyond the sea. "
Even this concern was part of that sacrifice so the p. Leopold deserves to be considered one of the greatest precursors and apostles of ecumenism. While he was alive, his mission was hidden, but now it looks great in front of the whole Church. Blessed Leopold points to the path of unity of all Christians, that is the way of sacrifice and prayer so that "all are one" (Jn 17, 21).
In 1946 he started the information process for the beatification. On March 1, 1974 was issued the Decree on the heroic virtues of the Servant of God, and followed the February 12, 1976 Decree on the miracles attributed to her intercession.
Finally came the day of the solemn beatification, decreed by Pope Paul VI, Pope of Vatican II and the intense dedication to ecumenism.
On May 2, 1976 was proclaimed "Blessed" by Pope Paul VI.
Four circumstances make it particularly poignant as happy event of the canonization occurs within the extraordinary Holy Year of Redemption, in the course of the Synod of Bishops, whose theme is the "Reconciliation" in the day - October 16, 1983 - coinciding with the fifth anniversary of 'election to the pontificate of John Paul II, and when we remember also the 25th anniversary of his episcopate.