Resignation of metropolitan archbishop of Siracusa, Italy, and appointment of the new metropolitan archbishop

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archbishop of Siracusa, Italy, presented by Archbishop Salvatore Pappalardo.

The Pope has appointed as metropolitan archbishop of the archdiocese of Siracusa, Italy, the Reverend Don Francesco Lomanto, of the clergy of the diocese of Caltanisetta, currently lecturer and president of the San Giovanni Evangelista Pontifical Theological Faculty of Sicily in Palermo.

Reverend Don Francesco Lomanto

The Reverend Don Francesco Lomanto was born in Mussomeli, province and diocese of Caltanisetta, on 2 March 1962.

He prepared for the priesthood in the diocesan seminary, receiving ordination on 29 June 1986; he was incardinated in the diocese of Caltanisetta where he worked as deputy parish priest in Villalba, San Cataldo and Caltanisetta from 1986 to 1996. He was parish priest of the parish of Sant’Enrico in Mussomeli from 1996 to 2011.

After being awarded a licentiate and a doctorate in Church history from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he began university teaching in Caltanisetta in 1992, teaching in the Theological Institutes there and in the San Giovanni Evangelista Pontifical Theological Faculty of Sicily, where he has served as rector from 2015.

His academic activity led him towards study and research, especially in relation to the figures and events of the local Church in Caltanisetta. This led to various publishing initiatives, and he is the author, co-author and editor of books, essays, historical journals and dictionaries.