Giovanni Saraceno (Latin ''Iohannes Saracenus'', sometimes rendered "John the Saracen" in English) was the

Archbishop of Bari and Canosa The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto ( la, Archidioecesis Barensis-Bituntina) is Metropolitan Latin rite archbishopric in the administrative Bari province, Puglia (Apulia) region, southeastern Italy (the 'Heel'), created in 1986, when ...

in the Kingdom of Sicily from 1259 until his death on 19 August 1280.Williel R. Thomson (1975), ''Friars in the Cathedral: The First Franciscan Bishops 1226–1261'' (Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies), pp. 179–80. He probably belonged to the noble Saraceni family of Rome, who were creditors to the Papacy.Norbert Kamp (1975)
''Kirche und Monarchie im staufischen Königreich Sizilien, 1: Prosopographische Grundlegung: Bistümer und Bischöfe des Königreichs 1194–1266, 2: Apulien und Kalabrien''
(Munich: Wilhelm Fink), pp. 596–601. His surname possibly indicates he was of

Arab The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...

descent, but his most recent ancestors belonged to the Papareschi family of Rome. He was thus a relative of Pope

Innocent II Pope Innocent II ( la, Innocentius II; died 24 September 1143), born Gregorio Papareschi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 14 February 1130 to his death in 1143. His election as pope was controversial and the fi ...

. Giovanni was a

Franciscan , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...

, and he was probably serving as provincial minister of either

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

or Apulia when elected archbishop in 1259. He may also identical to the John of Aversa of Arab descent who was the Franciscan provincial minister of Calabria in 1254. Giovanni's uncle was a proctor of King

Henry III of England Henry III (1 October 1207 – 16 November 1272), also known as Henry of Winchester, was King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine from 1216 until his death in 1272. The son of King John and Isabella of Angoulême, Henry a ...

at the papal curia.Björn K. U. Weiler (2006), ''Henry III of England and the Staufen Empire, 1216–1272'' (Woodbridge: Boydell Press), p. 150. Giovanni took over the Bariot diocese after the death of Archbishop

Enrico Filangieri Enrico Filangieri (died 10 October 1258) was an Italian nobleman and Dominican friar who served as the archbishop of Bari in the Kingdom of Sicily from May 1252 until his death. Enrico was a scion of the Filangieri family, the son of Guido, lord ...

, at a time of open warfare between two claimants to the Sicilian crown. His episcopate was dedicated to reconciling the church with the

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

, and balancing the interests of the two great churches of the city, his own Cathedral of San Sabino and the Basilica of San Nicola. In 1267, he rapidly repaired one of the towers of the cathedral after it collapsed during an earthquake. On 20 November 1267, Giovanni had two city judges authenticate some royal and papal grants to the diocese. Through the courts he recovered some property that belonged to the diocese and had been unlawfully possessed by another. In 1270 he reached an agreement with the 26 canons of his chapter to provide them generously with pastures, vineyards and houses. He signed as "Humble Brother Giovanni, Archbishop of the See of Bari and Canosa" (''frater Johannes humilis barine et canusine Sedis Archiepiscopus''). Giovanni attended the Second Council of Lyon (1272–74).

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Giovanni Saraceno 1280 deaths Year of birth unknown Arab Christians Archbishops of Bari Friars Minor