Ruggero Franceschini

Italian Catholic archbishop (1939–2024)

His Excellency

Ruggero Franceschini

Archbishop Emeritus of Izmir
Archdiocese| Izmir
Appointed| 11 October 2004
Term ended| 7 November 2015
Predecessor| Giuseppe Germano Bernardini
Successor| Lorenzo Piretto
Previous post(s)| Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia and Titular Bishop of Sicilibba (1993–2004)
Orders
Ordination| 11 August 1963
by Beniamino Socche
Consecration| 3 October 1993
by Achille Silvestrini
Personal details
Born| (1939-09-01)1 September 1939

Prignano sulla Secchia, Italy

Died| 30 December 2024(2024-12-30) (aged 85)
Reggio Emilia, Italy

Ruggero Franceschini, OFMCap (1 September 1939 – 30 December 2024) was an Italian archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church.

## Biography

[edit]

Ruggero Franceshini was born in Prignano sulla Secchia, Italy, on 1 September 1939. He entered the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and made his vows in 1960. He was ordained a priest of that order on 11 August 1963.[1]

On 2 July 1993, he was appointed apostolic vicar of Anatolia and titular bishop of Sicilibba, North Africa.[1] He received his episcopal consecration on 3 October 1993 from Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

On 11 October 2004, he was named Archbishop of İzmir.[1] Shortly after arriving in İzmir, a police car that a deranged man had stolen struck him crossing the road. He spent months in the hospital and was left with a limp. He hired a Turkish lawyer and waited years for a resolution. He later connected it to other attacks he viewed as part of an anti-Christian campaign.[2]

On 12 June 2010, he was given the additional responsibility of apostolic administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia[3] following the murder of Bishop Luigi Padovese. He did not accept the official explanation that Padovese had been the victim of a single mentally disturbed man. He connected it to other attacks and called it the work of "ultranationalists and religious fanatics".[2]

During his tenure, he worked to make St. John's Cathedral accessible to all. On 29 September 2013, it was reopened after major restoration work.[4]

On 7 November 2015, Pope Francis accepted his resignation as archbishop and named Lorenzo Piretto to succeed him.[5]

Franceschini died on 30 December 2024, at the age of 85.[4]

After the funeral, celebrated on 2 January 2025 in the parish church of Sant'Antonino in Casalgrande, he was buried in the local cemetery.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Rinunce e Nomine, 11.10.2004" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 11 October 2004. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
2. ^ a b Paci, Francesca (2011). Dove muoiono i cristiani (in Italian). Mondadori. p. 73.
3. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 12.05.2010" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
4. ^ a b "Il lutto. Morto l'arcivescovo emerito di Smirne Ruggero Franceschini". www.avvenire.it (in Italian). 30 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
5. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 07.11.2015" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2020.

Catholic Church titles

Preceded by

Giuseppe Germano Bernardini

|  Archbishop of Izmir
2004–2015  | Succeeded by

Lorenzo Piretto

Preceded by

Juozas Matulaitis

|  Titular Bishop of Sicilibba
1993–2004  | Succeeded by

Joseph Thomas Konnath

Preceded by

Giuseppe Germano Bernardini

|  Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia
1993–2004  | Succeeded by

Luigi Padovese

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