It was one of those senseless cardinal appointments that so pleased Pope Francis to surprise with his nominations. Neither the importance of the diocese nor the qualifications of the appointee; these cardinal creations only served to diminish the prestige of the Sacred College to the detriment of both the College itself and the Church.
He was created cardinal by Francis in 2015 and only participated in the Conclave that elected Leo XIV.
Francesco Cardinal Montenegro
Archbishop Emeritus of Agrigento, Italy
Cardinal-Priest of Santi Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio
Motto: Caritas Sine Modo
Events
| Date | Age | Event | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 May 1946 | 80.00 | Born | |
| 8 Aug 1969 | 23.2 | Ordained Priest | Priest of Messina, Italy |
| 18 Mar 2000 | 53.8 | Appointed | Auxiliary Bishop of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela, Italy |
| 18 Mar 2000 | 53.8 | Appointed | Titular Bishop of Aurusuliana |
| 29 Apr 2000 | 53.9 | Ordained Bishop | Titular Bishop of Aurusuliana |
| 23 Feb 2008 | 61.7 | Appointed | Archbishop of Agrigento, Italy |
| 17 May 2008 | 61.9 | Installed | Archbishop of Agrigento, Italy |
| 14 Feb 2015 | 68.7 | Elevated to Cardinal | |
| 14 Feb 2015 | 68.7 | Appointed | Cardinal-Priest of Santi Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio |
| 19 Apr 2015 | 68.9 | Installed | Cardinal-Priest of Santi Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio |
| 22 May 2021 | 75.0 | Retired | Archbishop of Agrigento, Italy |
| 19 Jun 2023 | 77.0 | Appointed | Apostolic Administrator of Piana degli Albanesi (Italo-Albanese), Italy |
| 16 Nov 2025 | 79.4 | Ceased | Apostolic Administrator of Piana degli Albanesi (Italo-Albanese), Italy |
|
| Event | Place |
|---|---|
| Birth Place | Messina, Archdiocese of Messina |
| Ordained Bishop | Maria SS Assunta, Cathedral Basilica, Messina, Archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela |