Guwahati, February 26, 2026: Pope Leo XIV has appointed four new auxiliary bishops for the Diocese of Rome on February 25, 2026, naming Fr. Stefano Sparapani, Fr. Alessandro Zenobbi, Fr. Andrea Carlevale and Fr. Marco Valenti. All four are priests of the Diocese of Rome and have been engaged in pastoral ministry within the city.
The appointments restore the customary structure in which each pastoral sector of the Diocese of Rome is entrusted to an auxiliary bishop. The diocese is divided into five sectors: north, east, south, west and the historic center. In recent years, some sectors had been led by priests who were not bishops.
Fr. Stefano Sparapani, ordained in 1991, has served in parish ministry in Corviale and San Basilio, and since 2015 as spiritual father at the Almo Collegio Capranica. Since 2025, he has been Episcopal Vicar for the north sector.
Fr. Alessandro Zenobbi, ordained in 1996, has served at San Policarpo and, since 2017, at Santa Lucia parish. He has been Episcopal Vicar for the west sector since 2025.
Fr. Andrea Carlevale, ordained in 1998, has served in parish assignments and at the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary. He was parish priest of Santa Maria di Loreto from 2015 to 2025 and currently serves at San Giovanni Battista de Rossi.
Fr. Marco Valenti, ordained in 1986, has held various parish assignments in Rome and holds a degree in Art History from La Sapienza University. Since 2024, he has been parish priest of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The appointments follow recent governance reforms in the Diocese of Rome, including the restoration of the historic center pastoral sector. The Holy See has affirmed continuity in pastoral care while strengthening episcopal leadership in the city.
In addition to the newly appointed auxiliaries, the Diocese of Rome continues its service under the leadership of Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina, Bishop Renato Tarantelli, Vice-Regent of the Diocese, and Bishop Michele Di Tolve, Rector of the Roman Major Seminary.
The appointments underscore the Bishop of Rome’s commitment to pastoral stability and structured governance in his diocese, in accordance with the apostolic constitution In Ecclesiarum Communionem (2023), which reformed the governance of the Diocese of Rome.