← News feed Pan-Orthodox

Pope Leo XIV appoints Cardinal Mauro Gambetti to lead the Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto

October 3, 2026 · 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Italian Cardinal Mauro Gambetti to serve as the archbishop of Chieti-Vasto, the Vatican announced on Oct. 3.

Gambetti will leave his post as the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he has served for the past five years after being appointed by Pope Francis in 2021.

He will take over the position in Chieti-Vasto from current Archbishop Bruno Forte, who has served there since 2004. Forte turned 77 in August, making him two years past the customary retirement age for prelates.

In a statement after the announcement, Forte described Gambetti’s appointment as “a special sign of the Lord’s benevolence.”

“I am certain that [Gambetti] — rich in both academic background and pastoral experience — will give new impetus to the care of the faithful and the work of evangelization, efforts that have been sustained in recent years through the collaboration of so many,” Forte said.

The outgoing archbishop said he would retire to Naples, his hometown, where he would pray for both Gambetti and the Church.

Born in Castel San Pietro Terme, Italy, Gambetti took his final vows with the Order of Friars Minor Conventual in 1998 and was ordained to the…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (4) 🌐 Show original

Stephen King

Looks like a pretty standard transition. Gambetti's been at St. Peter's for five years already, so he'll bring some Vatican experience to Chieti-Vasto. Forte heading back to Naples to pray makes sense at 77.

Xenia Davis

Yeah, it's a pretty smooth handoff after Forte's long run there. Gambetti's conventual background might bring a different flavor to parish life in Chieti-Vasto than the usual diocesan guys. You think the academic side will help much in a smaller Italian see like that?

Basil Bennett

Yeah, that conventual Franciscan angle could shake things up a bit in a smaller diocese—less bureaucracy, more emphasis on simplicity maybe. His academic side might help with formation programs, but you're right, it's not Milan or Rome. Do you know if he's kept up much hands-on parish work lately?

Peter Evans

Yeah, a smaller place like Chieti-Vasto might not need another scholar in the chancery so much as someone who can keep the weekday Masses and confessions steady. I wonder if his years at St. Peter’s left him enough time for the kind of one-on-one pastoral work that folks in a provincial diocese really notice.