Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa,
O.F.M.Cap
Pontifical Houselhold Preacher
Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M.Cap is a Franciscan Capuchin Catholic Priest.  Born
in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, 22 July 1934, and ordained priest in 1958 he is Divinity Doctor
and a Doctor in classical literature.  Former Ordinary Professor of History of Ancient
Christianity and Director of the Department of religious sciences at the Catholic
University in Milan, he is also a member of the International Theological Commission
(1975-1981).  

In 1979 he resigned his teaching position to be a full time preacher of the Gospel.  In
1980 he was appointed by Pope John Paul II Preacher to the Papal Household in which
capacity he still serves, preaching a weekly sermon in Advent and Lent in the
presence of the Pope, the cardinals, bishops and prelates of the Roman Curia and the
general superiors of religious orders.  He is frequently invited to speak at
international and ecumenical conferences and rallies.  He has been a member of the
Catholic delegation for the dialogue with the Pentecostal Churches for the last ten
years.  He runs a weekly program on the first channel of the Italian state television
(RAI) on the Gospel of the following Sunday.
Recent Gospel Commentaries by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M.Cap