Giuseppe Francica-Nava di Bontifé
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Styles of Giuseppe Cardinal Francica-Nava di Bontifé |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Catania |
Giuseppe Cardinal Francica-Nava de Bontifè (July 23, 1846—December 7, 1928) was an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Catania from 1895 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1899.
[edit] Biography
Giuseppe Francica-Nava de Bontifè was born in Catania, Sicily, and received the Sacrament of Confirmation in March 1849. He studied at the seminary in Caltanissetta, from where he obtained his licentiate in theology, and then went to Rome to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning his doctorates in theology, philosophy, and civil and canon law.
Francica was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1869. During his studies at the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles (1870-1880), he served as rector of the Caltanissetta seminary for three years, becoming the pro-vicar general (1877) and later full vicar general of the diocese. After becoming an honorary canon of the diocese's cathedral chapter, he was raised to the rank of Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness in 1876 and Domestic Prelate of His Holiness on March 4, 1879.
On August 9, 1883, Francica was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Caltanissetta and Titular Bishop of Alabanda by Pope Leo XIII, receiving his episcopal consecration on the following October 21 from Bishop Giovanni Guttadauro di Reburdone. He was promoted to Titular Archbishop of Heraclea on May 24, 1889, and later named Nuncio to Belgium on June 6, 1889, Archbishop of Catania on March 18, 1895 as well as Nuncio to Spain on August 6, 1896.
Pope Leo created him Cardinal Priest of Ss. Giovanni e Paolo in the consistory of June 19, 1899. Francica participated in the conclaves of 1903, 1914, and 1922, and also served as Cardinal Protopriest (the longest-serving member of the order of Cardinal Priests) from November 19, 1924 until his death.
Cardinal Francica died in Catania, at the age of 82. He is buried in the metropolitan cathedral of the same.
