Ruggero Franceschini
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 | |
Died | 30 December 2024 Reggio Emilia, Italy | (aged 85)
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 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
[edit]- ^ a b c "Rinunce e Nomine, 11.10.2004" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 11 October 2004. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ a b Paci, Francesca (2011). Dove muoiono i cristiani (in Italian). Mondadori. p. 73.
- ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 12.05.2010" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Il lutto. Morto l'arcivescovo emerito di Smirne Ruggero Franceschini". www.avvenire.it (in Italian). 2024-12-30. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
- ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 07.11.2015" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- 1939 births
- 2024 deaths
- Italian Roman Catholic archbishops
- Capuchin bishops
- 20th-century Roman Catholic titular bishops
- 21st-century Roman Catholic titular bishops
- Religious leaders from the Province of Modena
- 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Turkey
- 21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Turkey
- Bishops appointed by Pope John Paul II