Bishop Francesco Cavina Appointed Apostolic Visitor to Medjugorje
The municipality of Lugo has extended its congratulations to the bishop emeritus of Carpi for his new Vatican assignment.
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Monsignor Francesco Cavina as the special apostolic visitor for the parish of Medjugorje, according to an announcement issued on October 30. Bishop Cavina, who grew up in San Lorenzo di Lugo, succeeds Monsignor Aldo Cavalli, whose resignation was accepted by the pontiff at the same time.
The local government in Lugo quickly shared its support for the newly appointed official. Luigi Pezzi, the deputy mayor of Lugo, expressed great joy upon hearing the news, emphasizing that Bishop Cavina has successfully brought the community's values into his extended service to the Catholic Church.
"On behalf of myself and the administration, I extend my most sincere wishes for a good job on this new and delicate assignment, confident that he will carry it out with the sensitivity and dedication that have always distinguished him," stated Deputy Mayor Pezzi.
Born in Faenza in 1955, Francesco Cavina received his priestly ordination in Imola in 1980. Throughout his ecclesiastical career, he has undertaken various responsibilities, including service within the Vatican Secretariat of State. In 2011, he was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Carpi, a position he held until becoming bishop emeritus in 2019.
The appointment places Bishop Cavina in a prominent role overseeing the pastoral care and activities associated with Medjugorje, a location that draws numerous pilgrims from around the world. The special visitor role carries specific responsibilities regarding the spiritual guidance and administration of the parish.
Community members and local leaders in his home region continue to follow his career with pride, noting his deep roots in the local area and his decades of administrative and pastoral experience within the Vatican and Italian dioceses.