Antonio Maria Franci

Antonio Maria Franci was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate. He was bishop of Roman [Catholic Diocese of Grosseto|Grosseto] from 1737 until his death.

Life and career

Franci was born in Batignano on 12 July 1705. After earning a doctorate in law in Siena in 1729 and becoming a priest, he moved to Naples as a tutor to the Pignatelli family.
In 1737, he was appointed Bishop of Grosseto and focused his episcopacy on patrimonial reorganization, building restorations, and diocesan management. However, he faced numerous challenges stemming from the economic and social underdevelopment of the Maremma region, including a lack of qualified priests. He promoted the establishment of a girls’ school run by the nuns of Santa Chiara and tackled issues related to the ecclesiastical reforms introduced by Peter Leopold, staunchly defending the papacy's authority on ecclesiastical matters.
Franci indirectly participated in the 1787 assembly of Tuscan bishops, often delegating his representatives due to health issues. He died on 10 April 1790, in Grosseto.