Francesco di Paola Villadecani

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{{Infobox Christian leader

|type = Cardinal

|image = Francesco-dipaola-villadicani.jpg

|honorific_prefix = His Eminence

|name = Francesco di Paola Villadecani

|title = Archbishop of Messina

|church = Roman Catholic Church

|archdiocese = Messina

|see = Messina

|appointed = 17 November 1823

|term_end = 13 June 1861

|predecessor = Antonio Maria Trigona

|successor = Luigi Natoli

|other_post = Cardinal-Priest of Santi Bonifacio ed Alessio (1843-61)

|ordination = 18 September 1802

|consecration = 28 October 1820

|consecrated_by = Silvestro Todaro

|cardinal = 27 January 1843

|created_cardinal_by = Pope Gregory XVI

|rank = Cardinal-Priest

|birth_name = Francesco di Paola Villadecani

|birth_date = 22 February 1780

|birth_place = Messina, Kingdom of Naples

|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|1861|06|13|1780|02|22}}

|death_place = Messina, Kingdom of Italy

|buried = Messina Cathedral

|previous_post = Titular Bishop of Orthosia (1820-23) }}

Francesco di Paola Villadecani (22 February 1780 – 13 June 1861) was a cardinal of the Catholic Church who was Archbishop of Messina from 1823 to 1861.{{Cite web |title=Francesco di Paola Cardinal Villadecan [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url= https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bvillad.html |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=catholic-hierarchy.org}}{{cite web |url= https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1843.htm#Villadicani |title= The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church: Biographical Dictionary: Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1846): Consistory of January 27, 1843 (XX) (59) 1. VILLADECANI, Francesco di Paola (1780-1861)|access-date=2024-11-26}}

He was born on 22 February 1780 in Messina, Sicily, Italy. In 1820 he was named titular bishop of Orthosias in Caria. On 25 April 1823 he was elected Archbishop of Messina and his appointment was confirmed on 17 November.

Pope Gregory XVI elevated him to the rank of cardinal in the consistory of 27 January 1843, assigning him as Cardinal Priest to Santi Bonifacio ed Alessio.

In late 1857, due to possible dementia, an administrator, Giuseppe Maria Papardo, was appointed to manage the archdiocese for him.

He died in Messina on 13 [or 14] June 1861 at the age of 81, and was buried in the Cathedral of Messina, where his tomb can still be seen.