Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa OFM.Cap.. ....Preacher to the Papal Household.

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

In 1979 he resigned his teaching position to become 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 an 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 is has been member of 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.

Every Friday in Advent and Lent the Preacher to the Papal Household, also known as the Apostolic Preacher, gives a meditation in the presence of the Pope, the Cardinals, Bishops and Prelates and General Superiors of religious Orders. The title and office of Apostolic Preacher date back to the time of Paul IV (1555-1559).

Until that time the General Procurators of the four mendicant Orders (the Order of Preachers, or Dominicans, Friars Minor or Franciscans, Hermits of St Augustine and Carmelites) took it in turns to preach on the Sundays of Advent and Lent. Since the time of Paul IV a single Apostolic Preacher was appointed from different religious Orders. In 1743 Pope Benedict XIV, by the Brief Inclytum Fratrum Minorum, reserved the office exclusively to the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor.

At the present time the sermons are given in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel. The Apostolic Preacher resides at the Capuchin General Curia.