Oath of the Military Ordinary for Italy, H.E.R. Mons. Gian Franco Saba

Rome, May 12, 2025 – In the presence of the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, the solemn oath ceremony of His Most Reverend Excellency Monsignor Gian Franco Saba, appointed by Pope Francis as the new Military Ordinary for Italy, took place today at the Library of Palazzo Esercito in Rome. This event marks an important moment of great significance for the Church and for Italy, with Mons. Saba called to spiritually and morally support the Italian Armed Forces.

The Formation of Mons. Gian Franco Saba

Mons. Gian Franco Saba was born in Olbia (Sassari) on September 20, 1968. His education began at the Episcopal Seminary of the Diocese of Tempio-Ampurias, where he graduated from the classical high school “G.M. Dettori” in Tempio Pausania. He then continued his philosophical and theological studies at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Umbria in Assisi and the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Sardinia in Cagliari, where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology.

He specialized in Theology and Patristic Sciences in Rome, at the Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum, where he earned a License and Diploma in Theology and Patristic Sciences, with qualification for teaching and research. Subsequently, he obtained a Doctorate with a thesis on the "Dialogue on the Priesthood of St. John Chrysostom", delving into the cultural process in Late Antiquity. He also studied international relations and development cooperation at the University for Foreigners of Perugia, and attended the Institut de Science et de Théologie des Religions in Paris, obtaining the corresponding university diploma.

Presbyteral and Episcopal Ministry

Mons. Saba was ordained a priest on October 23, 1993. His early pastoral assignments focused on education and vocation in the Diocese of Tempio-Ampurias, where he held various roles, including Diocesan Assistant of the Youth of Catholic Action and Director of the Diocesan Youth Council. From 1995 to 2010, he was rector of the Episcopal Seminary of the Diocese of Tempio-Ampurias, and subsequently, from 2010 to 2015, rector of the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Sardinia.

In 2011, he was appointed Chaplain of His Holiness, and in 2016 he took on the role of parish priest of the parish of Sant’Antonio Abate in Sant’Antonio di Gallura, which he maintained until his appointment as Archbishop of Sassari in 2017. On September 13, 2017, he was ordained bishop, and on October 21, 2018, he received the Pallium, a symbol of his episcopal mission.

Academic Activity and Cultural Commitment

Mons. Saba has had a distinguished academic career. In 1996, he was co-opted as a lecturer at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Sardinia, where he served as an associate professor of Patristic Sciences. He also taught in various Higher Institutes of Religious Sciences in the Dioceses of Cagliari, Sassari, and Tempio-Ampurias. In 2001, he directed the Institute of Religious Sciences of the Diocese of Tempio-Ampurias, contributing to its transformation into a Higher Institute of Religious Sciences.

Mons. Saba founded and directed the Euromediterranean Institute – International School of Training, Specialization, and Research, which he directed until 2012. He was also the director of the scientific journal Mneme-Ammentos and the study series Library of Studies and Documents of the Euromediterranean Institute-ISSR. He organized numerous conferences and symposia of regional, national, and international interest, collaborating with prominent academic institutions.

In 2018, after his entry as Metropolitan Archbishop of Sassari, he established the Foundation Academy House of Peoples, Cultures, and Religions – New Humanism of Encounter, with the aim of promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue. The Foundation launched the educational project “Together for a Humanism of Education without Borders”, in line with Pope Francis's call for a Church with open doors.

Social and Journalistic Commitment

In addition to his pastoral and academic activities, Mons. Saba has always had a strong commitment to communication. Since 1994, he has been registered in the list of publicists of the Order of Journalists of Sardinia, and is the author of numerous scientific publications and articles.

With the appointment of Mons. Gian Franco Saba as Military Ordinary for Italy, the Italian Armed Forces are enriched with a spiritual guide of great education and culture. His academic experience and pastoral commitment make him a reference figure for the entire military community, uniting faith and professionalism to accompany the Armed Forces on a path of spiritual and moral growth.