PARENTI, GIOVANNI. — Franciscan friar, born, it seems, at Carmignano near Florence in the second half of the 12th century, and died at Ornano (Corsica) in 1250.
A doctor of law, he first served as a judge at Civita Castellana; after joining the Franciscans, in 1219 he was sent by St. Francis to Spain, where near Saragozza he founded the first convent. He became the first minister of the Spanish province. At the Chapter of Assisi on 30 May 1227, G. was elected the first successor of St. Francis.
**PARENZO, DIOCESE OF** — Mosaic from the eastern zone of the primitive Basilica (late 3rd century).
His activity, often hindered by the intrusions of Brother Elias, was directed toward the spread and organization of the Order. In 1230, with St. Anthony and other ministers, he took part in the legation to Gregory IX, who on that occasion issued the bull *Quo elongati* to resolve disputes concerning the interpretation of the Minorite Rule. During his leadership, the canonizations of St. Francis and St. Anthony of Padua took place, as well as the translation of the relics of the founder saint to the new basilica at Assisi. In 1230 Gregory IX, from Perugia, sent him to Rome to quell the revolt provoked by Annibaldo degli Annibaldi (Anal. Franc., 3 [1897], p. 211) and then to Florence to negotiate peace between that city and Siena (Bull. Franc., I [a. 1230], n. 57, p. 70 sg.). In 1232, having resigned the office of Minister General, he was succeeded at the Chapter of Rieti by Brother Elias, and G. requested to retire to Corsica, where he continued to labor for several more years to establish the Order on the island.
**SANSIANO MAJARELLI**