At 13.00 on June 6 of the year of our Lord 2022, at the age of 88, Father Francesco Rivellini, TOR completed his transitus.

Francesco was born in Gambatesa (CB) on April 4, 1934 to Giacomo and Maria Carrozza. He received baptism on April 7 of the same year in the parish of San Bartolomeo and the Sacrament of Confirmation on May 9, 1948.

From the documents of the provincial Tabularium, it appears that he began his postulancy on September 8, 1947. He entered the novitiate in the convent of San Francesco in San Ginesio (MC) on October 8, 1950. On October 14, 1951 he made his first religious profession in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Assisi into the hands of the Very Reverend Father Giovanni Della Vecchia, Minister Provincial. At the church of S. Maria Sopra Minerva in Assisi, he received the first clerical tonsure on 25 August 1956, the Minor Orders of the Porter and the Lectorate the following day, and those of the Exorcist and Acolyte on 22 September of the same year. On December 8, 1955, in the basilica of Ss. Cosma e Damiano in Rome, he solemnly professed the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis, into the hands of the Most Reverend Fr. Giovanni Boccella, Minister General.

He was ordained a deacon on December 21, 1957 and a priest on March 1, 1958.

His long and fruitful ministry was expressed above all in the field of youth education and pastoral care, areas in which he sincerely pursued the values ​​of collaboration with the laity through their empowerment.

Among others, he held various positions in our Roman convents of S. Achille, S. Maria della Salute and Ss. Quirico and Giulitta, in that of S. Gordiano in Civitavecchia, of the Ss. Patrons of Italy in Milan, of S. Antonio di Padova in Assisi.

From 1967 to 1972, he exercised his ministry in the United States of America, in particular at the Our Lady of Assumption parish in Bayonne (New Jersey), distinguishing himself in his service to Italian and Spanish-speaking migrants.

He taught religion in various Roman middle schools from 1962 to 1967; from 1972 to 1975, from 1979 to 1987 and in Civitavecchia from 1975 to 1979.

Fr. Francesco has always stood out for his attention to situations of poverty, his desire for knowledge of the world and of others and his lively intellectual curiosity.

In the various places where he exercised his ministry, he is remembered in particular for the fraternal and catechetical way in which he always welcomed the faithful and pilgrims.

The feelings of Franciscan gratitude to God that he knew how to cultivate in his heart are well expressed by this prayer composed by himself:

“Holy Father,
I praise you and thank you
for this love you bring me.
You gave me Jesus, your Son
in the Eucharist.
May you help me and sustain my life
You take me to contemplate Your face in Heaven.
Amen”

The funeral of Fr. Francesco, presided over by the Very Reverend Father Paolo Benanti, Minister Provincial, was celebrated on June 8, 2022 at the parish church of Sant’Achille in Rome, with the participation of numerous confreres, priests and his family members, as well as a large number of faithful and friends.

Fr. Francesco rests in the Gambatesa cemetery.