Fr Francesco Dileo, third of three children, was born in Cerignola (FG) on March 2nd 1967 from Michele and Carmela Antonacci. Since he was only a child he felt the first signs of his religious vocation which became clearer in 1984 during a popular Capuchin mission in Cerignola and during his 20 month long civil service in Brindisi helping elder and sick people. After this experience he spent a lot of time in the Capuchin Church of Cerignola ("Santissimo Nome di Gesù"). He first enrolled in the University and then, after the encouragement of the diocesan bishop Mons. Pichierri, he decided to change his life.
It was the 20th September 1992, day of the permanent stigmatization of Padre Pio. Fr Francesco was 25 years old when he began his noviciate and vested in the Capuchin habit in Morano Calabro, studying under the direction of the actual Guardian of the Friary of San Giovanni Rotondo, Fr Carlo Maria Laborde. A year later he took his simple vows and on 12th October 1996 he received his minor orders in Cerignola, by the Provincial Minister Fr Mariano Di Vito. He studied philosophy in Campobasso and theology in Bari at the theological faculty of Santa Fara.
On 30th April 2000 he was ordained priest in the "San Pietro Apostolo" basilica of Cerignola.
Before being the rector of the churches "Our Lady of Grace" and "St Pio of Pietrelcina" and president of the "San Pio da Pietrelcinca Foundation", he devotes to the pastoral care of youth. He first was the vice secretary of the vocational animation and then responsible of the pastoral care and vocational animation of the religious province "Sant'Angelo e Padre Pio" of the Capuchin Minor Friars.
His numerous engagements hasn't prevent him from continuing his studies, arriving on the threshold of his specialization in spiritual theology. The topic of his thesis is: "Freedom and obedience in the consecrated life of Padre Pio."
