Alfio Rapisarda
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Alfio Rapisarda | |
|---|---|
| Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus of Portugal Titular Archbishop of Cannae | |
| Appointed | 12 October 2002 |
| Retired | 8 November 2008 |
| Predecessor | Edoardo Rovida |
| Successor | Rino Passigato |
| Other post | Titular Archbishop of Cannae (1979–2026) |
| Previous posts |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 14 July 1957 by Guido Luigi Bentivoglio |
| Consecration | 27 May 1979 by Pope John Paul II, Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy, and Eduardo Martínez Somalo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 September 1933 Zafferana Etnea, Catania, Italy |
| Died | 11 February 2026 (aged 92) Aci Sant'Antonio, Catania, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Motto | Super Omnia Charitas |
| Styles of Alfio Rapisarda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Archbishop |
Alfio Rapisarda (3 September 1933 – 11 February 2026) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 1962 to 2008, with the title of apostolic nuncio from 1979.
Alfio Rapisarda was born on 3 September 1933 in Zafferana Etnea, Province of Catania, Italy. He was ordained a priest on 14 July 1957. He earned a doctorate in canon law.
Diplomatic career
Rapisarda entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1962.[1] He completed the course of studies at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1960.[2] His early assignments included stints in Honduras, Brazil, France, Yugoslavia, and Lebanon.[1]
On 22 April 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed him Titular Archbishop of Cannae and Apostolic Nuncio to Bolivia[1] and consecrated him a bishop on 27 May.[3]
On 29 January 1985, John Paul named him Apostolic Nuncio to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Apostolic Nuncio to Brazil on 2 June 1992, and Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal on 12 October 2002.[1] In 2004 Portugal and the Holy See signed a new concordat, replacing an outdated one from 1940.[4]
Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation on 8 November 2008.[5]
Death
Rapisarda died in Aci Sant'Antonio on 11 February 2026, at the age of 92.[6][7]
