Having been unable, for health reasons, to follow the missionary vocation to which he had felt called since his high school years, he conceived the idea of ​​founding the Emilian Seminary for Foreign Missions, which would become a Xaverian Institute for Foreign Missions. Conforti thus becomes founder and trainer of missionaries.

Who is the missionary for Conforti?
This is how he defines him in a speech on the occasion of the departure for China of some of his missionaries: “The Missionary is the most beautiful and sublime personification of the ideal life. He contemplated in spirit Jesus Christ who pointed out to the Apostles the world to be conquered for the Gospel, not by force of arms, but by persuasion and love and he was enraptured by it. Armed solely with the cross of Christ, he is always ready to shed his own blood, if this is necessary for the good of his brothers, indeed with the desire in his heart to seal his own apostolate with martyrdom."
The missionary's task is to continue the mission of Christ, for which he must have the same plans as Christ and use the same means that He used. Christ must therefore be the absolute model and constant point of reference. The supreme and unique model of the missionary must be Christ, whose mission he continues in this world. Missionary consecration through the profession of religious vows means a profound intimacy with Christ, seeing in Him the greatest riches (vow of poverty), the love that leads to giving one's life for all (vow of chastity), the joy of total dependence on God (vow of obedience). The vows therefore intend to express a "mystical" dimension, they want to be a "sign" of profound identification with Christ. The missionary feels deeply and preaches that all men are brothers: "The missionary is the most beautiful symbol, the most convinced and ardent apostle of this universal brotherhood, towards which humanity tends instinctively and by force of events".

Archbishop of Ravenna and Bishop of Parma, Bishop of all, but especially of non-practitioners.
Both in Ravenna and Parma the new Bishop expressly says that he wants to love everyone, rich and poor, sick or marginalized, with the heart of a father, but the people who are closest to his heart are those who were not present to listen to him and who did not have the privilege of knowing and loving Jesus or who had distanced themselves from Him:
“For the rich and the poor, for the righteous and for sinners, for those who suffer, who cry, for those without distinction who belong to this chosen portion of the flock of Christ I must feel a father's affection, or rather to use the incisive phrase of the Apostle, the bowels of a mother who holds her child to her breast”. The search for those who are far away is a constant concern of his and the object of the utmost care, both in Ravenna and in Parma: "Everything especially for you, who have abandoned the ways of the Lord".

Dedicated to works of mercy
Everyone certainly didn't listen to his word, but he addressed everyone with the constant practice of spiritual and corporal works of mercy. He spoke to everyone with the language of that energetic love that came from Christ. Conforti's missionary heart was manifested through a tireless proclamation of Christ, with closeness to sinners, with a predilection for the poor and the marginalized. There were numerous sworn testimonies in the Beatification process regarding the Blessed's love for others. We quote one that seems to offer us a summary of his love for his neighbor and his constant exercise of the works of mercy:
“For this admirable exercise of charity everyone saw the saint in Him and declared it openly….The Servant of God practiced both spiritual and corporal works of mercy. For the health of souls he was assiduous in preaching, and, from what I have heard priests say, he heard confessions especially during pastoral visits and, if called, also at the bedside of the sick. The Servant of God felt great compassion for the poor and needy.
He always helped them whenever possible, and regretted not always being able to give in proportion to their need. I believe he never sent anyone back empty-handed. From the attitude full of sweetness and goodness that he had towards the poor, he shone through like a ray of his supernatural charity... He always gave alms to the beggars that he met on the street or who showed up at the Bishopric. ... He frequently visited the sick and injured in the various hospitals, bringing his word of comfort which was always welcome... he habitually welcomed everyone with gentleness and charity and knew how to spread comfort in afflicted hearts. This was a characteristic aspect of his nature. Every year he went to the prison to distribute Easter Communion to the inmates: on this occasion he preached, bringing great comfort to the inmates."

Teacher and shepherd
The decree on the heroic nature of virtues offers us a glimpse into his pastoral activity: “He particularly monitored the purity of Christian doctrine, promoting the religious education of his people, to the point of making this the main point of his pastoral commitment. He established schools of Christian Doctrine in all the parishes and prepared catechists with specific courses in religious culture and teaching pedagogy and, the first in Italy, celebrated a Catechetical Week.
Facing countless hardships and hardships, he made the pastoral visit four times, going to the most distant villages in the mountains and valleys; a fifth pastoral visit was interrupted by his death. He held two diocesan synods, established and promoted Catholic Action, especially among young people. He took special care of the training of the clergy in the seminaries."

Missionary for the whole world
A conviction of Conforti: priests are consecrated for the whole world
Conforti was not afraid to broaden his pastoral horizons to the ends of the world, and this was seen by him as an integral dimension of his apostolic communion and responsibility. Continuing Jesus' mission to the ends of the world was not something optional for him, but was felt as a strict duty also for every Christian, as well as for Bishops, Priests and Religious.
The idea of ​​an organization of the clergy to promote the mission ad Gentes was long pondered by Blessed Paolo Manna, a PIME missionary. From Manna's idea was born the foundation of the Missionary Union of the Clergy, which will become the Pontifical Missionary Union.
In 1915, Father Manna already had a plan ready to launch the new missionary association of the clergy. It was certainly not an easy task. To be listened to by the clergy, an "authority" was needed who had real influence even at the level of the Catholic hierarchy. For this reason he turned to the Bishop of Parma and Superior General of a Missionary Institute, Monsignor Conforti, who enjoyed great esteem both at the Vatican and in the Italian episcopate. He agreed to collaborate with Fr. Manna, presenting the project to the Pope for approval, which he obtained immediately. It was also Monsignor Conforti who assisted the first steps of the Work; he was its first national President for Italy and it was under his direction that the work consolidated and reached a high level of development.
On November 5, 1931, worn down by fatigue and pastoral activity, he fell asleep in the Lord. The Xaverian Missionaries, sons of Monsignor Conforti, currently numbering 850, are present in nineteen nations on four continents.