Pope Francis made two appointments of bishops in Italy. They were announced Friday, October 29, 2021, by the Vatican.
Resignation and appointment of bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia, Italy
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Terni-Narni-Amelia, Italy, presented by Bishop Giuseppe Piemontese, O.F.M. Conv.
The Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Francesco Antonio Soddu, until now national director of Caritas Italiana, as bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia, Italy.
Msgr. Francesco Antonio Soddu was born on 24 October 1959 in Chiaramonti, metropolitan archdiocese of Sassari. He attended the Azuni Classical Lyceum in Sassari and later studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Sardinian Regional Seminary in Cagliari. He was awarded a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology and a licentiate in pastoral theology at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Sardinia.
He was ordained a priest on 24 April 1985. Since 1998 he has served as canon of the Turritano Chapter.
He has held the following positions: vice-rector of the Sardinian Pontifical Regional Seminary in Cagliari (1985-1987); vice-rector of the Archiepiscopal Seminary in Sassari (1987-1996); director of the Diocesan Vocations Centre (1987-2005); parish priest of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Sassari (1997-2012); assistant to the AGESCI Sassari 3 Scout Group (1997-2012); diocesan assistant of Italian Catholic Action for the Youth Sector (1998-2005); member of the diocesan Presbyteral Council (1999-2012); member of the diocesan College of Consultors (2005-2011); director of diocesan Caritas (2005-2012); director of the diocesan Migrantes Office (2011-2012).
He was also a member of the diocesan Jubilee Committee in 2000, a member of the Sardinian Plenary Council in its third session, and secretary-general of the diocesan Eucharistic Congress (2003).
From 2012 until now he has been national director of Caritas Italiana.
Appointment of bishop of Ascoli Piceno, Italy
The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Gianpiero Palmieri, hitherto titular of Idassa and archbishop vicegerent of Rome, as bishop of Ascoli Piceno, Italy, conferring on him the title of Archbishop ad personam.
Archbishop-elect Gianpiero Palmieri was born on 22 March 1966 in Taranto, in the homonymous province and metropolitan archdiocese. He attended the Pontifical Roman Minor Seminary and then the Almo Collegio Capranica.
He was ordained a priest on 19 September 1992 for the diocese of Rome. He was awarded a licentiate in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
He has held the following positions: from 1992 to 1997, vice-rector of the Pontifical Roman Minor Seminary; from 1992 to 1999, diocesan vice ecclesiastical assistant of Italian Catholic Action; from 1996 to 1997, an official of the Pastoral Centre for Evangelisation and Catechesis of the vicariate of Rome; from 1997 to 1999, parish vicar of Santi Simone e Giuda Taddeo in Torre Angela; from 1999 to 2004, parish vicar and from 2004 to 2016, parish priest of San Frumenzio. From 2003 to 2005 he served as representative of the parish vicars of the Northern Sector in the Presbyteral Council; from 2007 to 2010, prefect of the IX Prefecture; from 2011 to 2017, representative of the parish priests of the Northern Sector in the Presbyteral Council; from 2016 to 2018, parish priest and from June to August 2018, parish administrator of San Gregorio Magno. From 2017 to 2018 he was in charge of the Service for the Ongoing Formation of Clergy.
Appointed titular bishop of Idassa and auxiliary of the diocese of Rome on 18 May 2018, he was consecrated the following 24 June. On 19 September 2020, he was appointed as archbishop vicegerent of Rome.
He is also a delegate for the permanent diaconate, president of the Regional Commission for Migration of the Lazio Episcopal Conference, and member of the CEI Commission for the service of charity and health.
