Home · Faith · Oct 3 archive
Pope moves St. Peter’s archpriest to Italian diocese without naming successor
Developing
In Short: Pope Francis named Cardinal Mauro Gambetti as archbishop of the central Italian Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto, while leaving the archpriest position at St. Peter's Basilica vacant.
Pope Francis announced Oct. 3 that Cardinal Mauro Gambetti would succeed Archbishop Bruno Forte as the archbishop of the central Italian Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto.
Cardinal Gambetti, who has served as the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica and the pope’s vicar for Vatican City for over five years, was appointed by Pope Leo XIV.
According to Pope Francis’ apostolic constitution “Praedicate Evangelium,” the Fabric of St. Peter’s oversees the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter, including its conservation, decorum, and internal discipline.
The pope did not immediately name a new archpriest to replace Cardinal Gambetti, who oversaw the daily administration of St. Peter’s Basilica and presided over liturgies when the pope was not present.
Bishop Calogero La Piana, the current vicar of the archpriest, will continue to help oversee the basilica.
Cardinal Gambetti, created a cardinal in 2020 by the late Pope Francis, is a Conventual Franciscan and previously served as general custos of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Assisi before his 2021 appointment as archpriest.
What's still developing
- Peter, the Vatican office responsible for maintaining the basilica complex.