Mauro Gambetti

Mauro Gambetti was born in Castel San Pietro Terme, Italy, on 27 October 1965. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Bologna. He joined Order of Friars Minor Conventals in September 1992 and took his final vows on 20 September 1998.[1]

He obtained a bachelor's degree in theology at the Theological Institute of Assisi and a licentiate in theological anthropology at the Theological Faculty of Central Italy in Florence. He was ordained a priest on 8 January 2000 in Longiano. He was animator of youth and vocation ministry for Emilia-Romagna there and, from 2005 to 2009, also leader and animator of the religious community.[1]

In the spring of 2009 the members of the Bologna Province, who have responsibility for the convents of the Friars Minor Conventual of Emilia-Romagna, elected him to a four-year term as their superior. He held that position until 22 February 2013 when the leadership of the order appointed him to head the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of San Francesco in Assisi for a four-year term from 2013 to 2017, with the title General Custos. At the same time, the Bishop of Assisi appointed him Episcopal Vicar for the pastoral care of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi and other places of worship run by the Friars Minor Conventual in that diocese.[1] He was confirmed for another term as Custos General in 2017.[2]

From 2009 to 2013 he also served as president of the Italian Conference of Major Superiors (CISM) for Emilia Romagna and vice-president of the Intermediterranean Conference of Provincial Ministers (CIMP). Since 2010 he has been regional assistant of the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) for Emilia-Romagna.[3] He was elected President of the Intermediterranean Federation of Provincial Ministers of the Friars Minor Conventual in September 2017.[1]

On 25 October 2020, Pope Francis announced he would raise him to the rank of cardinal at a consistory scheduled for 28 November 2020.[4] Gambetti is the first Conventual Franciscan to become a cardinal since 1861.[5] His term as General Custos was due to expire in 2021[6] but he was instead succeeded in that position on 12 November by Father Marco Moroni.[7] As cardinals are required to be bishops, he was consecrated a bishop on 22 November in the Basilica of Assisi by Cardinal Agostino Vallini, becoming titular archbishop of Thisiduo.[8] At that consistory, Pope France made him Cardinal-Deacon of Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano.[9] On 16 December he was named a member of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.[10]

• Cardinals created by Pope Francis

• "Gambetti Card. Mauro, O.F.M. Conv". Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020.
• Press Office of the Sacro Convento [@francescoassisi] (25 October 2020). "Ci sono momenti in cui gli abbracci e i sorrisi valgono più di mille parole: auguri fra Mauro!" [There are moments when hugs and smiles are worth a thousand words: best wishes Fra Mauro!] (Tweet) – via Twitter.
• "Father Mauro Gambetti, O.F.M. Conv". Catholic Hierarchy. ^{[self-published]}