Lorefice Corrado

Corrado Lorefice is Mettropolitan Archbishop of Palermo.
Corrado Lorefice was born on October 12, 1962, in Ispica, Italy.
In September 1976, he entered the Minor Seminary of Noto and attended public school while enrolling at the “Matteo Raeli” Teachers’ Institute in the same city. After completing his high school education in 1981, he entered the Major Seminary of Noto, which was then located at the Episcopal Seminary of Acireale, and studied at the St. Paul’s Theological Institute in Catania.
After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Theology in 1985, due to his excellent performance, Bishop Monsignor Salvatore Nicolosi sent him to Rome to complete his theological studies at the Alfonsian Academy. He resided at the San Norberto College of the Premonstratensian Fathers. From January to June 1988, he served pastorally at the Church of the Most Precious Blood in Rome.
In 1988, he obtained a License in Moral Theology and was ordained a Deacon by Bishop Salvatore Nicolosi at the Cathedral of Noto on September 26, 1986. He was ordained a Priest by the same Bishop at the SS. Annunziata Church in Ispica on December 30, 1987.
On January 2, 1988, he was appointed Prebendary of the Cathedral Chapter and two years later became the Major Canon.
On October 1, 1988, he was appointed Economo of the Episcopal Seminary, and in October 1989, he became the Vice Rector of the Seminary. He held these positions until September 2008. During this time, together with the then Rector, Father Rosario Gisana (now Bishop of Piazza Armerina), he organized significant experiences of the School of Prayer for the young people of the diocese and numerous Vocational School Camps for young people and adolescents. On October 1, 1990, he was appointed Director of the Diocesan Vocations Center, allowing him to collaborate closely with Father Pino Puglisi. Later, he became the Director of the Regional Vocations Center and a member of the National Vocations Center Council from 1997 to 2007.
From November 1, 1995, to May 31, 1996, Monsignor Nicolosi appointed him Administrator of the Parish of S. Lucia in Mendola (Noto).
In September 2005, Bishop Monsignor Giuseppe Malandrino appointed him Director of Permanent Deacons’ Formation, a position he held until 2012.
On September 15, 2008, Monsignor Mariano Crociata appointed him Director of the Diocesan Catechetical Office, a position he held until 2010. On January 17, 2009, the same Bishop appointed him Administrator of the Mother Church Parish – S. Pietro Apostolo in Modica.
On June 29, 2010, Monsignor Antonio Staglianò appointed him Archpriest Pastor of S. Pietro and Vicar Foraneo of the Vicariate of Modica. In October 2010, he was also appointed Episcopal Vicar for the Clergy, a position he held until September 2014 when he was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Care. On November 8, 2014, he was appointed Parish Moderator of the S. Paolo Apostolo Parish in Modica by the same Bishop.
On October 27, 2015, he was elected Metropolitan Archbishop of Palermo and was consecrated Bishop at the Cathedral of Palermo on December 5, 2015.
After obtaining a License from the Alfonsian Academy, he taught Moral Theology at the “G. Blandini” Higher Institute of Religious Sciences in Noto (from 1988 to 2009), at the “S. Agostino” Higher Institute of Religious Sciences in Acireale (from 1994 to 2008), at the “San Metodio” Higher Institute of Religious Sciences in Syracuse (from 2010 to 2013), and at the St. Paul’s Theological Institute in Catania (since 1989 as a visiting professor and from 2010 to the present as a commissioned professor).
In December 2009, he obtained a Ph.D. in Theology, discussing his thesis entitled “The Church and the Mystery of Christ in the Poor. G. Dossetti and the Formation of the Discourse on Poverty at the Second Vatican Council by Cardinal G. Lercaro.”
He has been a speaker at numerous theological and pastoral conferences, and he has published articles in scientific and theological journals, with a particular focus on youth, the poor, and the Second Vatican Council.
Among his publications are the following monographs:
– “Gettate le reti. Itinerario parrocchiale di preghiera per le vocazioni”, Edizioni San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo (MI), 2004.
– “Dossetti e Lercaro. La Chiesa povera e dei poveri nella prospettiva del Concilio Vaticano II”, Edizioni San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo (MI), 2011.
– “La compagnia del Vangelo. Discorsi e idee di don Pino Puglisi a Palermo”, San Lorenzo, Reggio Emilia, 2014.
– “Scrivo a voi padri, scrivo a voi giovani”, Edizioni San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo (MI), 2017.
– “Il volto di una Chiesa povera”, Edizioni San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo (MI), 2018.
– “«Siate figli liberi!»”, Edizioni San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo (MI), 2019.
– “Il Vangelo e la strada. Palermo come Gerico”, Edizioni San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo (MI), 2021.