Patriarch of Venice

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Patriarch of Venice is the senior bishop who leads the Patriarchate of Venice, a major Catholic diocese in northeastern Italy. The current patriarch is Francesco Moraglia. The office is one of only four Latin Rite patriarchs in the Catholic Church, alongside the Patriarchs of Lisbon, the East Indies and Jerusalem. Today the title is mostly ceremonial, but the patriarch has a place of honor in papal processions and may wear red non‑liturgical vestments even if he is not a cardinal.

The Venice diocese began in 774 as a suffragan of Grado. In 1451, the pope created the Patriarchate of Venice, elevating the bishop to patriarch because of Venice’s political importance. Historically, patriarchs were often made cardinals, though Moraglia has not been.

During the era of the Venetian Republic (until 1797), the Senate chose the patriarch, usually selecting a layman who was ordained to serve the role. The bishops of Olivolo (later Castello) were technically under Grado but acted with independence, with the primicerio in Saint Mark’s representing the city government.

In 1807 the patriarchal seat was moved to Saint Mark’s Basilica, and in 1808 the relics of Saint Mark were found during renovations. In the 20th century, three Venice patriarchs became pope: Pius X, John XXIII and John Paul I. The archdiocese’s cathedral is Saint Mark’s Basilica, and over time the diocese expanded to include nearby sees.