Archbishop Francesco Massara

The Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Francesco Massara, Archbishop of Camerino-San Severino Marche, as Bishop of the Diocese of Fabriano-Matelica, uniting the two sees *in persona Episcopi* (in the person of the Bishop). H.E. Msgr. Francesco Massara, Archbishop of Camerino-San Severino Marche and Bishop of Fabriano-Matelica, was born on July 1, 1965, in Tropea (province of Vibo Valentia), within the Diocese of Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea. After completing his classical high school studies, he undertook university studies in Philosophy at La Sapienza University in Rome. In 1988, he obtained a diploma in Librarianship and Archival Science from the Vatican Secret Archives. That same year, he entered the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary and attended the Pontifical Lateran University, where he earned a Baccalaureate in Theology and a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology. He was ordained a priest on April 17, 1993, and incardinated into the clergy of the Diocese of Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea. He served as an assistant at the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary in Rome (1992–1995); Director of the Diocesan Vocations Center for the Diocese of Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea (1995–1998); Parish Priest of San Nicola Vescovo in Vazzano (VV) (1996–2004); member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council (1996–1999); member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council (1996–1999); collaborator with Diocesan Caritas (1996–2003); founder and manager of diocesan work cooperatives (1997–2003); head of the Diocesan Administrative Office (1999–2003); and auditor for the Diocesan Institute for the Sustenance of the Clergy (2001–2004). He served as Bursar General of the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Imperial Missionaries Association from 2006 to 2017. From 2017 to 2018, he was Parish Priest of San Pantaleone Martire in Limbadi (Vibo Valentia) and Deputy Director of the Diocesan Administrative Office; he was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Don Mottola Foundation and an elected member of the Presbyteral and Regional Councils. Elected Archbishop of Camerino-San Severino Marche on July 27, 2018, he received episcopal consecration on the following October 6.