Francesco Montenegro | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Agrigento | |
 Cardinal Francesco Montenegro during Consistory 2015. | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Agrigento |
| See | Agrigento |
| Appointed | 23 February 2008 |
| Installed | 17 May 2008 |
| Term ended | 22 May 2021 |
| Predecessor | Carmelo Ferraro |
| Successor | Alessandro Damiano |
| Other post | Cardinal-Priest of Santi Andrea a Gregorio al Monte Celio (2015-) |
| Previous post | |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 8 August 1969 by Francesco Fasola |
| Consecration | 18 March 2000 by Giovanni Marra |
| Created cardinal | 14 February 2015 byPope Francis |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1946-05-22)22 May 1946 (age 79) |
| Motto | Caritas Sine Modo (Love without Limit) |
| Coat of arms |  |
Ordination history of Francesco Montenegro | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Styles of Francesco Montenegro | |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Religious style | Cardinal |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Francesco Montenegro (born 22 May 1946) is an Italian prelate of theRoman Catholic Church. He served as theArchbishop of Agrigento from 2008 until 2021.Pope Francis made him acardinal on 14 February 2015.
Francesco Montenegro was born inMessina 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 MessinaFrancesco Fasola andIgnazio Cannavò.[1]
From 1978 to 1988 he was pastor of the parish of San Clemente in Messina and then director of the diocesan branch ofCaritas, regional delegate of Caritas, and finally regional representative of the Italian Caritas.[1]
He also fulfilled assignments as a professor of religion, diocesan assistant ofItalian 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 theArchdiocese 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]
On 18 March 2000,Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Messina-Lipari-Saint Lucia del Mela and titular bishop ofAurusuliana.[1] He received his episcopal consecration on 29 April 2000 in the cathedral of Messina from ArchbishopGiovanni 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, replacingCarmelo 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 theItalian Episcopal Conference.[citation needed]
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 ofSanti Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio.[6] On 13 April 2015, Pope Francis appointed Montenegro a member ofPontifical Council Cor Unum andPontifical 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]
Pope Francis appointed Alessandro Damiano Archbishop Coadjutor of Agrigento in anticipation of Montenegro's retirement on 30 April 2020[9] and accepted Montenegro's resignation on 22 May 2021.[10]
Montenegro was named a member of theCongregation for the Causes of Saints on 7 August 2021.[11]
On 19 June 2023, Pope Francis nominated him as Apostolic Administratorsede vacante of the Greek CatholicEparchy of Piana degli Albanesi.[12]
Montenegro participated as acardinal elector in the2025 papal conclave that electedPope Leo XIV.[13]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Auxiliary Bishop of Messina–Lipari–Santa Lucia del Mela 18 March 2000 – 23 February 2008 | Succeeded by Cesare Di Pietro |
| Preceded by | — TITULAR — Titular Bishop of Aurusuliana 18 March 2000 – 23 February 2008 | Succeeded by Adam Bałabuch |
| Preceded by Carmelo Ferraro | Archbishop of Agrigento 23 February 2008 – 22 May 2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Cardinal-Priest of Santi Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio 14 February 2015 – | Incumbent |
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