Francesco Montenegro (born 22 May 1946) is a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has served as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Agrigento since 2008. On 4 January 2015, Pope Francis announced that he would make him a cardinal on 14 February.

Francesco Montenegro was born in Messina on 22 May 1946. He studied philosophy and theology at the Archdiocesan Seminary Sainn Pius X there. He was ordained a priest on 8 August 1969 and then continued his studies at the Ignatianum of Messina. He did parish work during 1969-1971 in a suburban area of the city of Messina and in 1971-1978 served as secretary to the Archbishops of Messina Francesco Fasola and Ignazio Reedy.

From 1978 to 1988 he was pastor of the parish of San Clemente in Messina and then director of the diocesan branch of Caritas, regional delegate of Caritas, and finally regional representative of the Italian Caritas.

He also fulfilled assignments as a professor of religion, diocesan assistant of Italian Sports Center, diocesan director of the Apostleship of Prayer, rector of the church sanctuary of Santa Rita and spiritual adviser of the minor seminary, and a member of the Council of Priests .

From 1997 to 2000, he was pro-vicar general of the Archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela and served as well beginning in 1998 as proto-metropolitano canon of the chapter of the cathedral of Messina and prelate of honor to His Holiness.

On 18 March 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Messina-Lipari-Saint Lucia del Mela and titular bishop of Aurusuliana. He received his episcopal consecration on 29 April 29 in the cathedral of Messina from Archbishop Giovanni Marra, with Archbishop Ignazio Cannavò and Bishop Francesco Sgalambro as co-consecrators.

From May 2003 to May 2008, he was President of the Italian Caritas.

On 23 February 2008, Pope Benedict XVI named him Archbishop of Agrigento, replacing Carmelo Ferraro, who had resigned because of his age. He took possession of the archdiocese on 17 May.

Since May 2013, he has been President of the Commission for Migration of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

On 4 January 2015, Pope Francis announced that he would make Montenegro a cardinal during the consistory in Rome on 14 February. At that ceremony, he was assigned the titular church of Santi Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio. He was scheduled to take possession of the Church on the third Sunday of Easter, April 19, 2015, at 11:30 AM.

[September 2016]

Source: Wikipedia