Archbishop Leonardo D'Ascenzo

The Holy Father Francis has appointed Msgr. Leonardo D’Ascenzo—a priest of the Diocese of Velletri-Segni and formerly Rector of the “Pontificio Collegio Leoniano” Regional Seminary in Anagni—as Archbishop of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie. Msgr. D’Ascenzo was born on August 31, 1961, in Valmontone (in the province of Rome and the Diocese of Velletri-Segni). After completing his secondary education at the State Industrial Technical Institute, he entered the “Pontificio Collegio Leoniano” Regional Seminary in Anagni for philosophical and theological studies; he later continued his education at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology and a Master’s degree in Educational Sciences. He earned a Doctorate in Spiritual Theology from the Teresianum. Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Velletri-Segni on July 5, 1986, he served as parochial vicar of Santa Maria in Segni, parish priest of Santa Croce in Artena, and parochial vicar of the Cathedral of San Clemente in Velletri. He served first as the diocesan assistant for the Children’s branch of Catholic Action and later as the assistant for the organization as a whole. He also served as spiritual director, vice-rector, and subsequently director of the Propaedeutic Year at the “Pontificio Collegio Leoniano” in Anagni. He was the director of both the diocesan and regional Vocations Centers and deputy director of the National Vocations Center of the Italian Episcopal Conference. He is a lecturer in Spiritual Theology at the “Pontificio Collegio Leoniano” and assists at the Santa Barbara parish in Colleferro. He has held the title of Chaplain of His Holiness since February 21, 2004. In July 2015, he was appointed Rector of the “Pontificio Collegio Leoniano” in Anagni.