Archbishop Gian Franco Saba New Military Ordinary for Italy

Pope Francis has appointed Mons. Gian Franco Saba, current Metropolitan Archbishop of Sassari, as the new Military Ordinary for Italy. The Holy Father has decided to transfer him from his diocese of Sassari to take on a role of great spiritual and pastoral significance, at a time when the Church is reflecting on its role in complex situations often far from traditional ecclesial structures. Mons. Saba, who will turn 57 on the upcoming September 20, replaces Mons. Santo Marcianò, who held the position for 12 years.

Education and Career

Mons. Gian Franco Saba was born in Olbia on September 20, 1968. After attending the Diocesan Seminary of Tempio–Ampurias, he continued his theological studies at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Umbria in Assisi and the Theological Institute of the Pontifical Lateran University. He later obtained a Bachelor's degree in Theology from the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Sardinia and a Doctorate in Theology and Patristic Sciences at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome. He also expanded his knowledge with a course on “Communication Systems in International Relations” at the University for Foreigners of Perugia.

Ordained a priest on October 23, 1993, incardinated in the Diocese of Tempio–Ampurias, Mons. Saba has held numerous positions, including Diocesan Assistant of Catholic Action Youth, Director of the Diocesan Institute of Religious Sciences, Rector of the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Sardinia in Cagliari, and Pastor of San Antonio Abate in San Antonio di Gallura. On June 27, 2017, he was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Sassari, receiving episcopal consecration on September 13 of the same year.

The Message of Mons. Saba to the Military Ordinariate Church

In his greeting message to the Military Ordinariate Church, Mons. Saba thanked his predecessor Mons. Marcianò for his long service and expressed gratitude to the military chaplains, who operate in complex contexts far from the ordinary life of parishes. He emphasized the importance of being a living and tangible presence for those who serve with faithfulness and sacrifice.

A special remembrance was directed to the young, the suffering, and the families of the military, expressing his appreciation for their commitment and sacrifice. Mons. Saba also referred to his episcopal motto taken from Saint Augustine: “Dilectione amplectere Deum” (Embrace God with love), and proposed three key words for the pastoral journey ahead: field, tent, and journey.

The Field, the Tent, and the Journey

According to Mons. Saba, the Military Ordinariate Church for Italy embodies an itinerant faith, moving together with the men and women it serves. The field represents the place of work, waiting, and discernment, but also of encounter and spiritual battle. The tent symbolizes God's presence among His people, a closeness that accompanies without ever imposing. Finally, the journey represents the continuous pilgrimage towards a homeland that, although not yet visible, is already in the heart of every believer.

Mons. Saba concluded his message by stating that the Church must be a presence of listening and dialogue with everyone, without prejudice and without closures. Following the example of Pope Francis, the archbishop commits to making the Church a "tent of God," capable of welcoming, listening, and accompanying everyone along the journey of life, disarming negative thoughts, words, and gestures, to be a presence of peace and hope in a world in need of justice and solidarity.

A New Beginning for the Military Ordinariate Church

The new appointment of Mons. Saba represents a new phase for the Military Ordinariate Church for Italy, a service distinguished by its closeness to the military and their families. In a time when the world faces increasingly complex challenges, Archbishop Saba is ready to continue the work of his predecessor, carrying forward a mission of love, solidarity, and hope, in the tradition of Christian values and the teachings of Pope Francis.