Falconio, Diomede: (b. Sept. 20, 1842, Pescocostanzo (AQ); d. Feb. 8, 1917, Rome). Ecclesiastic. He entered the Franciscan order in 1860 and, upon completing his education, was sent (1865) as a missionary to the United States. Early in the next year he was ordained a priest. In that same year he served as a professor of philosophy at St. Bonaventure’s College in Allegheny, NY. In 1867, he was professor of theology and secretary of the Franciscan Province of the Immaculate Province, and, in the following year, he became President of the College and Seminary of St. Bonaventure. In 1868, he renounced his loyalty to the Italian Crown and became an American citizen. In 1872, he was sent to Canada where he became secretary and administrator of the Cathedral at Harbor Grace, Newfoundland. Returning to the U.S. in 1882, he remained there for another year before returning (1883) to Italy. He continued to rise through the Franciscan order, becoming Provincial in the Abruzzi in 1883; Commissary and Visitor General for the Province of Naples in 1888; Synodial examiner of the Diocese of Aquila, Commissary and Visitor General of the Franciscan Province in Puglia in 1889; and Procurator-General of the Franciscan Order and Visitor-General in several Provinces (1889-92). In 1892, he was consecrated as Bishop of Lacedonia and, in 1895, was raised to become the Archbishop of Acerenza and Matera, Basilicata. In 1899, he returned to the Americas and served as Apostolic Delegate to Canada until 1902. He then returned to the United States to serve as Apostolic Delegate there until 1911. On Nov. 30, 1911, he was consecrated as Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Ara Coeli. On May 25, 1914, he was raised to Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri – Segni, continuing in that post until his death. He also became Prefect of Sacred Congregation of Religious on Feb. 26, 1916.