Pope Leo XIV has appointed four new auxiliary bishops for the Diocese of Rome, as reported in its daily news bulletin. The appointees are priests Stefano Sparapani, Alessandro Zenobbi, Andrea Carlevale, and Marco Valenti, until now parish priests in the Italian capital.
The announcement comes in the context of an internal reorganization of the Pope’s diocese. According to an analysis published by National Catholic Register (NCR), these appointments mean the restoration of the territorial episcopal hierarchy in Rome, following the changes introduced in recent years.
Reorganization of the Diocese of Rome
Leo XIV has decided to restore the central sector of the Diocese of Rome, which had been suppressed by Pope Francis through a motu proprio on October 3, 2024. Traditionally, the diocese was divided into five territorial sectors—north, south, east, west, and historic center—each with its own auxiliary bishop.
During the previous pontificate, the number of auxiliaries reached eight, some with specific competencies. However, in the last two years, several transfers and appointments outside the diocese occurred that reduced the number of active auxiliary bishops.
The NCR recalls that between 2024 and 2025, Daniele Salera (bishop of Ivrea), Dario Gervasi (deputy secretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life), Paolo Ricciardi (bishop of Jesi), and Benoni Ambarus (archbishop of Matera-Irsina) were transferred or promoted. Currently, in addition to the vicar general Renato Tarantelli Baccari, Michele Di Tolve remained as auxiliary, appointed in 2023 as rector of the Rome seminary.
With the new appointments, Leo XIV restores a more defined structure of auxiliaries for the different sectors of the city.
Profiles of the New Auxiliaries
The four new auxiliary bishops were already exercising pastoral responsibilities in Rome and had been episcopal vicars for the different territorial sectors.
Stefano Sparapani
Born in Rome on July 24, 1956, he studied Philosophy at the Pontifical Lateran University and obtained a master’s in Moral Theology. He was ordained a priest on October 4, 1991, for the Diocese of Rome.
He has been a parochial vicar and parish priest in Corviale, parish priest of San Basilio since 2010, spiritual father at the Almo Collegio Capranica since 2015, and since 2025, episcopal vicar for the northern sector of the city.
Alessandro Zenobbi
Born in Rome on November 10, 1969, he was trained at the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary and was ordained a priest on April 28, 1996.
He was a parochial vicar and later parish priest of San Policarpo, and since 2017 he has been parish priest of Santa Lucia. In 2025 he was appointed episcopal vicar for the western sector.
Andrea Carlevale
Born in Rome on April 8, 1971, he was ordained a priest on May 3, 1998. He has carried out his ministry in various parishes of the city and was an assistant at the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary.
From 2015 to 2025 he was parish priest of Santa Maria di Loreto a Castelverde-Lunghezza, a period in which he was elected prefect by the priests of his prefecture. Since 2025 he is parish priest of San Giovanni Battista de Rossi.
Marco Valenti
Born on February 28, 1961, in Cantalupo in Sabina, he studied at the minor and major seminaries of Rome and also obtained a degree in Art History from La Sapienza University.
Ordained a priest on April 26, 1986, he has been a parochial vicar in several Roman parishes and parish priest of San Giuseppe Artigiano and San Saturnino. Since 2024 he is parish priest of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
A Step in the Reorganization of Diocesan Government
With these designations, Leo XIV puts an end to the exceptional situation in which the territorial sectors were headed by episcopal vicars without episcopal ordination, thus reinforcing collegiality in the governance of the diocese.
The NCR warns that these movements could have effects on other appointments in Italy, at a time when several dioceses are facing a generational turnover, with numerous bishops reaching retirement age in the coming years.