Pope appoints Cardinal Gambetti as new Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto

By Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday appointed Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, 60, a Conventual Franciscan, as the new Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto, transferring him from his positions as Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Papal Basilica in the Vatican, and President of the Fabric of Saint Peter.

He succeeds Archbishop Bruno Forte, 77, who submitted his resignation from the pastoral governance of the archdiocese due to the age limit.

Created a Cardinal by Pope Francis in November 2020, Gambetti was called on February 20, 2021, to take up his positions at the Vatican. Previously, from 2013 to 2020, he served as Custos of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Assisi.

Born on October 27, 1965, in Castel San Pietro Terme in Bologna, after obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Bologna, Mauro Gambetti began his journey with the Order of Friars Minor Conventual in September 1992, making his final profession of vows in September 1998.

After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from the Theological Institute of Assisi in Perugia, he earned a Licentiate in Theological Anthropology from the Central Italy Theological Faculty in Florence.

He was ordained a priest on January 8, 2000, in Longiano at the Convent of the Most Holy Crucifix. There, he served as director of youth and vocational ministry for Emilia-Romagna and, from 2005 to 2009, also served as guardian friar, responsible for and animator of the religious community.

In the spring of 2009, his fellow friars of the Bolognese Province of St. Anthony of Padua elected him Provincial Minister. Then, on February 22, 2013, the Order’s Minister General called him to serve as General Custos of the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Assisi for the four-year term from 2013 to 2017.

In 2017, he was reconfirmed as Custos of the Sacred Convent for the 2017–2021 term, a position he held until October 30, 2020, when he was assigned the titular see of Tisiduo with the personal title of Archbishop. He received episcopal consecration on November 22, 2020, at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.

At the consistory of November 28, 2020, Pope Francis created and proclaimed him a Cardinal, assigning him the Deaconry of the Most Holy Name of Mary at the Trajan Forum.

Following his appointment, on February 29, 2021, as Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Papal Basilica in the Vatican, and President of the Fabric of Saint Peter, Francis also appointed him in June 2023 as a judge of the Court of Cassation of the Vatican City State.

Cardinal Gambetti is a member of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

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