Cardinal Francesco Montenegro is a retired Italian prelate and twice a former president of Italian Caritas who has been a particularly strong advocate for migrants and welcomed Pope Francis to Lampedusa on his first trip as pontiff.

Born on May 22, 1946, in Messina, Italy, Montenegro completed his philosophical and theological studies at the San Pio X archiepiscopal seminary in Messina and was ordained priest on August 8, 1969.

Montenegro’s early ministry focused on pastoral work in the outskirts of Messina from 1969 to 1971. He then served as personal secretary to two archbishops before becoming a parish priest at San Clemente in Messina from 1978 to 1988.

He has worked as a teacher of religion, diocesan assistant to a sport center, diocesan director of a prayer apostolate, administrator, rector of a shrine, and spiritual father of the minor seminary. He has also served as a member of a presbyteral council.

From 1997 to 2000 he served as general pro-vicar of the archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela, and from 1998 as canon of the Proto-Metropolitan Chapter of the Cathedral of Messina. He chose as his motto: Caritas sine modo.

His dedication to social issues became evident when he was appointed director of diocesan Caritas in 1988.

In 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed Montenegro as auxiliary bishop of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela. He received episcopal ordination on April 29 of that year, taking as his motto: Caritas sine modo.

His leadership skills were recognized when he served as president of Italian Caritas from 2003 to 2008 and again from 2015. A significant milestone in his career came on February 23, 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as metropolitan archbishop of Agrigento.

Cardinal Montenegro, affectionately known as “Don Franco,” has been a tireless advocate for migrants, describing them as “a sacrament of God’s presence to us.” His commitment to this cause led to his appointment as president of the Episcopal Commission for Migration within the Italian Episcopal Conference and president of the Migrantes Foundation in 2013.

One of the most significant events in Montenegro’s career was welcoming Pope Francis to Lampedusa on July 8, 2013, during the Pope’s first trip of his pontificate.

In recognition of his service and dedication, especially on this issue, Pope Francis elevated Montenegro to cardinal in February 2015, further amplifying his voice on issues related to migration that has been an issue close to the Pope’s heart.

The cardinal took part as a Synod Father in the 2015 Synod on the Family. He has expressed hope for the Church to recognize the family as the central pillar of human society but also to acknowledge people from different cultures and sexual inclinations, citing Pope Francis’ “Who am I to judge?” statement about persons with homosexual tendencies.

Cardinal Francesco Montenegro sees the Eucharist and the liturgy within the context of social justice. For him the Eucharist is primarily a source of charity rather than a rite, as an inspiration for concrete actions of love and service towards others. He does not appear to have weighed in on issues such as Traditionis Custodes.