PRECONIO, OTTAVIANO. - Conventual Franciscan theologian, born at Castroreale (Messina) around the end of the 15th century, died at Palermo on 18 July 1568.
A master of theology and distinguished preacher, he was provincial minister of Sicily (1534–38; 1542–43), general visitor of Aragon and other overseas provinces, bishop of Monopoli (from 16 Apr. 1546), then of Ariano (13 June 1561), and, according to some, also of Cefalù; archbishop of Palermo from 18 March 1562. He was also counsellor, preacher, and confessor to Carlo V, and orator for Filippo II at the Council of Trent during its third period, distinguishing himself by his «vota» de Indice, de usu Eucharistiae, de Residentia, de concessione Calicis, de Ordine. At Palermo he celebrated (1565) a reform synod, the acts of which were published in that year.
Among his other writings, the following should be noted: Summa de Sacramentis (Palermo 1565); Praeconium Sacramenti hoc est dispositio et praeparatio ad altissimum Eucharistiae Sacramentum (ibid. - Napoli 1566); Expositio responsorii Libera me Domine de morte aeterna (ibid. 1566); Expositio perlucida in orationem illam obscuram seu offertorium mysteriorum: Domine Jesu Christe rex gloriae (Napoli 1570).