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Ruggero Franceschini

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His Excellency

Ruggero Franceschini
Archbishop Emeritus of Izmir
ArchdioceseIzmir
Appointed11 October 2004
Term ended7 November 2015
PredecessorGiuseppe Germano Bernardini
SuccessorLorenzo Piretto
Previous post(s)Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia and Titular Bishop of Sicilibba (1993–2004)
Orders
Ordination11 August 1963
by Beniamino Socche
Consecration3 October 1993
by Achille Silvestrini
Personal details
Born(1939-09-01)1 September 1939
Died30 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

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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 September 29, 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

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  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). 2024-12-30. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  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 Archbishop of Izmir
2004–2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Titular Bishop of Sicilibba
1993–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Giuseppe Germano Bernardini
Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia
1993–2004
Succeeded by