He was the oldest bishop in Italy. Monsignor Settimio Todisco, Emeritus shepherd of the diocese of Brindisi – Ostuni, He died on Wednesday. He would have turned 101 on 10 May next. Historical figure of the Apulian church, he led the Salento diocese from 1975 to 2000.
He had studied at the diocesan seminar of Ostuni and then in Pontifical Pugliese Regional Seminary “Pius XI” of Molfetta. He had been ordained priest on 27 July 1947, in the Cathedral of Ostuni, by the metropolitan archbishop of Brindisi Francesco De Filippis.
His priestly ministry had begun as a coadjutor in the parish of the Cathedral of Ostuni. At the same time he had also been a professor and deputy rector in the Ostuni seminary, as well as teacher of religion at the gymnasium. It was then the archbishop Nicola Margiotta, In June 1957, to call him back to Ostuni, appointing him canonical theologian, prefect of Curia, bishop’s delegate for the Catholic action and assistant to the graduate movement. Five years later he was a vicar general and in 1963 he was awarded the title of apostolic protonotary.
The positions of Archpriest of the Cathedral Chapter, a teacher of religion in the classical high school and a member of the Consulta of the Apulian pastoral institute, followed. On December 15, 1969 he was chosen as the apostolic administrator of the diocese of Molfetta, Giovinazzo and Terlizzi. Two months later, on February 15, 1970, he was ordained ordered bishop in the Cathedral of Ostuni by Cardinal Corrado Ursi. On May 24, 1975 he was then appointed Archbishop of Brindisi and, during his episcopate, the diocese was combined with that of Ostuni. On February 5, 2000, due to age limits, he resigned.
From 16 July 2023 he was the oldest Italian bishop.
“The Apulian bishops remember him as an exemplary shepherd”, wrote the CEP (Apulian episcopal conference) in a note, “who has been able to testify with dedication and humility the Gospel, contributing significantly to the spiritual and social growth of the Apulian territory. His ministry was marked by the commitment to ecclesial communities, the promotion of laity, missionary cooperation between churches, dialogue and service to the most fragile “.
The body of Monsignor Todisco was composed at the CHiesa of Villa Specchia, where it will remain until 10 on Friday. Subsequently, it will be translated into the Co -Cathedral of Ostuni, where the funeral will take place at 15.30.
With Todisco’s death, the “record” of the oldest bishop in Italy passes to Monsignor Gaetano Bonicelli who celebrated 100 years on 13 December last. Originally from the province of Bergamo, it was the metropolitan archbishop of Siena-Colle of Val d’Elsa-Montalcino from 1989 to 2001.
