Pope Francis on Nov. 9 appointed Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap, as the new preacher of the Papal Household, replacing Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, 90, who held that position for 44 years.
Cantalamessa, who was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis in 2020, has been preacher of the Papal Household since 1980, when he was appointed by St. John Paul II.
His successor is a professor of biblical exegesis at the Theological University of Northern Italy in Milan and is now tasked with giving the Friday meditations of Advent and Lent, among other tasks, as Cantalamessa did for years, serving three popes (John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis) and the Vatican Curia.
Pasolini was born on Nov. 5, 1971, in Milan and just turned 53. According to the Vatican Press Office, he made his perpetual vows in the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Capuchin on Sept. 7, 2002, and was ordained a priest on Sept. 23, 2006.
The Franciscan earned a doctorate in biblical theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and has been a professor of biblical languages and sacred Scripture at the Laurentianum Interprovincial Theological Institute of the Capuchins in Milan and Venice. He works with the Archdiocese of Milan in the formation of religion teachers and with the Italian Conference of Major Superiors.
Pasolini is the author of various articles and books on biblical spirituality and dedicates himself to the preaching of spiritual retreats and exercises.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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Walter Sanchez Silva is a senior writer for ACI Prensa. He has experience in researching and covering international ecclesiastical events such as World Youth Days (WYD) in Cologne 2005, Madrid 2011, and Rio 2013; the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopal Council in Aparecida; as well as the trips of Pope Benedict XVI in May 2007 to Brazil and in 2012 to Mexico. He covered Pope Francis' trip to South Korea in 2014 and the Synods of Bishops in the Vatican in 2015 (on the family) and 2019 (on the Amazon). He was also sent to cover the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and served as a field producer in Buenos Aires in 2013 for the documentary "Pope Francis: The Pope of the New World".
