Franco Agostinelli

Franco Agostinelli (born 1 January 1944) is a retired Italian prelate who served as Bishop of Prato and Bishop of Grosseto.

Biography Franco Agostinelli was born on 1 January 1944 in Arezzo, a comune in Tuscany, Italy. He was ordained a priest on 9 June 1968 by Telesforo Giovanni Cioli, the Bishop of Arezzo, in the Parish of San Marco alla Sella after studying at the seminary of Arezzo. Acrigay interpreted the visit as an endorsement of homosexual relationships by the bishop. At the meeting, Aurelio Mancuso, the national president of Arcigay, was present along with numerous journalists.

Following attention by the media, Agostineli renounced the visit, saying that it had been exploited, and said that he would carry out another visit without any political or media interference. Agostinelli continued to demonstrate openness to dialogue with homosexual communities, meeting with other organizations over the years.

On 29 September 2012, he was appointed the Bishop of Prato by Pope Benedict XVI and was installed in the diocese on 25 November 2013.

Pope Francis accepted his resignation on 15 May 2019.