Flavio Cavallini
| Rev. Flavio Cavallini OFM | |
|---|---|
| Apostolic Administrator of Southern Albania | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 25 April 2026 |
| Predecessor | Giovanni Peragine |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 16 June 1984 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Flavio Cavallini 12 August 1957 Verona, Italy |
| Alma mater | Studium Biblicum Franciscanum |
Flavio Cavallini OFM (born 12 August 1957) is an Italian Roman Catholic prelate and biblical theologian who has served as the Apostolic Administrator of Southern Albania since April 2026.[1] A member of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), he previously served as the parish priest of Saint Anthony in Tirana.[2]
Early life and education
Flavio Cavallini was born on 12 August 1957 in Verona, Italy.[3] He entered the Franciscan Order and underwent his initial formation at the San Bernardino Inter-Provincial Theological Studium in Verona, where he completed his studies in philosophy and theology.[1]
He later moved to Jerusalem to continue his intellectual and spiritual formation at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, where he obtained a licentiate in biblical theology.[2] He was ordained a priest on 16 June 1984.[3]
Ministry in Albania
Cavallini moved to Albania in 1993, shortly after the fall of the communist regime, to assist in the reconstruction of the local Catholic Church.[2] He became a prominent figure in the Albanian Franciscan Province, serving as Provincial Minister for three terms.[4]
In Tirana, he served as the parish priest of the Church of Saint Anthony (Shna Ndou), a significant center of pilgrimage. He also founded and directed Vatra Biblike (Biblical Hearth), a service of the Archdiocese of Tirana-Durrës dedicated to biblical formation and promoting Christian experience in the capital.[2]
Apostolic Administrator
On 25 April 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Cavallini as the Apostolic Administrator of Southern Albania.[4] He succeeded Bishop Giovanni Peragine, who previously was transferred to the Archdiocese of Shkodër-Pult. Also it was announced in his appointment, that he will serve without the episcopal rank, meaning, that he remains a priest.[1]
The Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction that serves the small Catholic minority (mostly of the Byzantine Rite) in the southern half of the country.[5]
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Back to citation occurrence 1.2 "Rinunce e nomine, 25.04.2026" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 25 April 2026. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Back to citation occurrence 2.3 "At' Flavio Cavallini emërohet Administrator Apostolik i Shqipërisë së Jugut". Vatican News (in Albanian). 25 April 2026. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 "Father Flavio Cavallini, O.F.M." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 "Papa Leoni XIV emëron Administratorin Apostolik të Jugut". TV Klan (in Albanian). 25 April 2026. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- Back to citation "Acta Apostolicae Sedis" (PDF). Acta Apostolicae Sedis (in Latin). XXXII. Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis: 139-140. 1940. Retrieved 26 April 2026.