Very Rev. Anthony Benedetto Pizzo, O.S.A., prior provincial of the Midwest Province of Augustinians, will join the Benedictine community of Saint Vincent Archabbey at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 21 as celebrant and homilist for Mass in the Archabbey Basilica for the Solemnity of the Passing of Our Holy Father Benedict, Abbot. All are welcome to attend.

As Prior Provincial, Father Pizzo oversees all of the activities of the Augustinians in the Midwestern United States, Canada, and Northern Peru, while maintaining his primary offices at the province headquarters in Chicago. His classmate was Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, and if he was not serving as Pope, Father Pizzo would be Pope Leo’s superior.

Prior to his election, Father Pizzo served for over a decade as Pastor of Saint Rita Parish in Chicago and Dean of Vicariate V-A. The parish is a predominantly Spanish-speaking parish and he gained recognition for his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform with organizations such as Priests for Justice for Immigrants and the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Pastoral Migratoria ministry.

In collaboration with Southwest Organizing Project and its member institutions, he also participated in affordable housing efforts, neighborhood safety issues and health care for low-income families. A native of Chicago’s southwest side, Father Pizzo was educated at Saint René Goupil Parish elementary school and continued to JFK High School before discerning a vocation with the Augustinians and attaining his undergraduate degree at Villanova University.

He professed his vows to the order in 1979 and received a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago. In 1984 he was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, receiving his first assignment as Parochial Vicar for Saint Clare of Montefalco Parish in Michigan.

A grandson of Italian immigrants, Father Pizzo also serves as Chaplain for the Italian American Executives of Transportation.