Ottavio Branciforte

Most Reverend Ottavio Branciforte
Bishop of Catania
Portrait of Branciforte by Giacinto Platania Portrait of Branciforte by Giacinto Platania
Church	Catholic Church
Diocese	Diocese of Catania
In office	1638–1646
Predecessor	Innocenzo Massimo
Successor	Marco Antonio Gussio
Previous post	Bishop of Cefalù
Personal details
Born	29 November 1599 Palermo, Italy
Died	14 June 1646 (aged 46) Acireale, Italy

Ottavio Branciforte (29 November 1599 – 14 June 1646) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Cefalù and Bishop of Catania.

Early life

Ottavio Branciforte was born in Palermo, Italy in 1599. He was the son of Ercole Branciforte, 1st Duke of San Giovanni and, his second wife, Agata Lanza. Among his siblings were brothers Antonio Branciforte, 1st Prince of Scordia, and Luigi Branciforte, who was Bishop of Melfi e Rapolla. From his mother's previous marriage, his elder half-brother was Niccolò Branciforte, 1st Prince of Leonforte.

Career

On 10 January 1633, he was appointed during the papacy of Pope Urban VIII as Bishop of Cefalù and consecrated bishop by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Pamphilj, Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Eusebio on 16 January 1633. On 2 March 1638, he was appointed Bishop of Catania, serving until his death on 14 June 1646.

External links and additional sources

• Cheney, David M. "Diocese of Cefalù". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved June 13, 2025. (for Chronology of Bishops) ^{[self-published]}
• Cheney, David M. "Diocese of Catania". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved June 13, 2025. (for Chronology of Bishops) ^{[self-published]}