Francesco Montenegro

Francesco Montenegro (born 22 May 1946) is a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has served as Archbishop of Agrigento since 2008. Pope Francis made him a cardinal on 14 February 2015.

His Eminence

Francesco Montenegro
Cardinal
Archbishop of Agrigento
Giorgio Napolitano with Francesco Montenegro (right).
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseAgrigento
SeeAgrigento
Appointed23 February 2008
Installed17 May 2008
PredecessorCarmelo Ferraro
Other postsCardinal-Priest of Santi Andrea a Gregorio al Monte Celio (2015-)
Orders
Ordination8 August 1969
by Francesco Fasola
Consecration18 March 2000
by Giovanni Marra
Created cardinal14 February 2015
by Pope Francis
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born (1946-05-22) 22 May 1946
Messina, Italy
Previous post
Motto"Caritas Sine Modo"
("Love without Limit")
Coat of arms
Ordination history of
Francesco Montenegro
History
Priestly ordination
Date8 August 1969
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorGiovanni Marra
Co-consecratorsIgnazio Cannavo
Francesco Sgalambro
Date29 April 2000
Cardinalate
Elevated byPope Francis
Date14 February 2015
Styles of
Francesco Montenegro
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal

Early life and career

Francesco Montenegro was born in Messina on 22 May 1946. He studied philosophy and theology at the Archdiocesan Seminary Saint Pius X there. He was ordained a priest on 8 August 1969 and then continued his studies at the Ignatianum of Messina. He did parish work during 1969–1971 in a suburban area of the city of Messina and in 1971–1978 served as secretary to the Archbishops of Messina Francesco Fasola and Ignazio Cannavò.[1]

From 1978 to 1988 he was pastor of the parish of San Clemente in Messina and then director of the diocesan branch of Caritas, regional delegate of Caritas, and finally regional representative of the Italian Caritas.[1]

He also fulfilled assignments as a professor of religion, diocesan assistant of Italian Sports Center, diocesan director of the Apostleship of Prayer, rector of the church sanctuary of Santa Rita and spiritual adviser of the minor seminary, and a member of the Council of Priests .

From 1997 to 2000, he was pro-vicar general of the Archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela and served as well beginning in 1998 as proto-metropolitano canon of the chapter of the cathedral of Messina.[1]

Bishop, archbishop and cardinal

On 18 March 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Messina-Lipari-Saint Lucia del Mela and titular bishop of Aurusuliana.[1] He received his episcopal consecration on 29 April 2000 in the cathedral of Messina from Archbishop Giovanni Marra.[2]

From May 2003 to May 2008, and again from May 2015 to December 2018, he was President of Italian Caritas.[3]

On 23 February 2008, Pope Benedict XVI named him Archbishop of Agrigento, replacing Carmelo Ferraro, who had resigned because of his age.[4] He took possession of the archdiocese on 17 May.[2]

Since May 2013, he has been President of the Commission for Migration of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

On 4 January 2015, Pope Francis announced that he would make Montenegro a cardinal during the consistory in Rome on 14 February.[5] At that ceremony, he was assigned the titular church of Santi Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio.[6] On 13 April 2015, Pope Francis appointed Montenegro as member of Pontifical Council Cor Unum and Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.[7] Pope Francis also named him to participate in the Synod on the Family in October 2015.[8]

On 30 April 2020, Pope Francis appointed Alessandro Damiano to serve as Bishop Coadjutor of Agrigento in anticipation of Montenegro's retirement.[9]

See also
  • Cardinals created by Pope Francis

References
  1. "Rinunce e Nomine" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 18 March 2000. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  2. "Mons. Francesco Montenegro". Arcidiocesi di Agrigento (in Italian). Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  3. "Grazie Presidente! Caritas Italiana saluta il cardinal Montenegro". Caritas Italians (in Italian). 4 December 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  4. "Rinunce e Nomine" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 23 February 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  5. "Annuncio di Concistoro per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  6. "Consistory: list of titular church assignments". Vatican Radio. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  7. "Rinunce e nomine, 13.04.2015" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  8. "Pope completes selection of Synod participants with bipartisan nominations and two parish priests". La Stampa. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  9. "Rinunce e Nomine, 30.04.2020" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Carmelo Ferraro		 Archbishop of Agrigento
2008 – present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Edmund Szoka		 Cardinal Priest of Santi Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio
2015–present
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