Cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice, the Bishop of Montepulciano-Chiusi-Pienza in central Italy, is a former spiritual director of Rome’s Major Seminary who has focused on helping immigrants and marginalized communities, earning him the nickname “the street priest.”

Born on July 1, 1964, in Rome, Lojudice prepared for the priesthood at the Pontifical Major Seminary in Rome and studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University from 1983 to 1989, obtaining a license in theology with a specialization in fundamental theology.

After he was ordained priest in 1989, he began his ministry in some of Rome’s most challenging neighborhoods, earning him the moniker “street priest” due to his dedication to working with immigrants, Roma communities, the poor, and those affected by organized crime.

Lojudice’s ecclesiastical life has been marked by several notable appointments and achievements. He served as the spiritual director of Rome’s major seminary and was named an auxiliary bishop of Rome in 2015. In this role, he was responsible for the southern peripheries of the diocese and the seaport city of Ostia as vicar general. His work in these areas earned him recognition from Pope Francis, who reportedly referred to him as the “toughest bishop in the capital.”

In 2019, Pope Francis appointed Lojudice as Archbishop of Siena-Colle di Val d’Elsa-Montalcino, a position he currently holds. His dedication to serving the marginalized continued in this role, and he gained further recognition for his efforts. On November 28, 2020, Pope Francis elevated Lojudice to the rank of cardinal, a move that surprised many due to the relatively short time he had been serving as archbishop and the fact that Siena is not typically associated with cardinals.

In July 2022, Lojudice was also named Bishop of Montepulciano-Chiusi-Pienza, further expanding his responsibilities within the Church. Throughout his ecclesiastical life, Lojudice has emphasized the importance of interpreting reality and finding solutions together with the people he serves, rather than imposing top-down solutions — an approach similar to synodality.

Despite his numerous achievements and accolades, Lojudice is said to remain humble and focused on his mission. He has stated that labels such as “street priest” or “bishop of the Roma” are unnecessary, emphasizing that his work is simply about being a priest and following the Gospel. He views his elevation to the cardinalate not as a reward, but as a call to continue “getting his hands dirty” in the service of the Church and her people. His approach and the issues he chooses to focus on closely resemble those of Pope Francis.

Cardinal Lojudice has been actively involved in working with immigrants and marginalized communities throughout his career. He serves as the secretary of the Commission on Migration within the Italian Episcopal Conference. Lojudice has spoken out against anti-immigrant sentiment, stating that “most Romans have a fundamentally charitable attitude and are not easily influenced” by anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Cardinal Lojudice is not on record as speaking out on other pressing issues such as abortion, secularisation, or the liturgy.