Roman Catholic Cardinal. Born to Evaristo Cento from his second marriage to Ermelinda Andreani in Pollenza, Fernando Cento entered seminary in Macerata, later furthering his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the La Sapienza Royal University in Rome. Ordained priest in Macerata on December 23, 1905, he was named professor of literature at the local seminary and of philosophy at the state institute. Demonstrating excellent qualities as a preacher in several Italian dioceses, during the Great War he was called to the military service and was attached to the health section at the military hospital of Ancona between 1915 and 1917. Founder and first director of the weekly diocesan newspaper "Il Cittadino", he served as secretary to the Papal Majordome, Monsignor Giovanni Tacci from 1917 until 1918. Named Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness on November 15, 1917 and canon of the cathedral chapter of Macerata in 1919, he became pastor of the named cathedral in 1922. Elected bishop of the diocese of Acireale in Sicily on July 22, 1922, he received his episcopal consecration on the following September 3 inside the cathedral of Macerata from Cardinal Giovanni Tacci. Promoted to the titular archbishopric see of Seleucia Pieria and appointed apostolic nuncio in Venezuela in June 1926, he was transferred to nunciature in Perú on July 26, 1936 and was charged with the affairs of the Church in Ecuador, which had not had any diplomatic relations with the Holy See for nearly forty years. Nuncio in Ecuador as of July 25, 1937 he successfully negotiated the 'modus vivendi' with the Ecuadorian government, which established the diplomatic relations between both states. Named nuncio in Belgium and Luxembourg on March 9, 1946, he served as extraordinary Papal envoy to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain on June 2, 1953. Transferred to the nunciature of Portugal on October 26, 1953, Pope John XXIII created him cardinal priest in the consistory of December 15, 1958 with the title of Sant'Eustachio. Opting for the order of cardinal bishops and the suburbicarian see of Velletri on April 23, 1965, he founded the "Casa di Riposo di Pollenza" in 1972. Cardinal Cento died on January 13, 1973, at 4 am., in Rome. That same day, Pope Paul VI visited the chapel where his laid exposed. The solemn funeral mass, celebrated by Msgr. Luigi Punzolo, apostolic administrator of Velletri, took place at the Patriarchal Vatican Basilica on January 16 at 10.30 am. Cardinal Luigi Traglia represented the Pope in the final commendation. A large number of cardinals, archbishops and bishops of the Roman Curia, as well as from Macerata, Pollenza and Acireale, attended the mass. A second funeral mass was held at the cathedral of Macerata, presided by the local bishop, Msgr. Ersilio Tonini and concelebrated by one hundred priests and numerous bishops. A third took place in Pollenza, with the locals holding a demonstration that visibly showed the esteem the population held the late Cardinal. His mortal remains were buried inside the parish church of Sant'Antonio in Pollenza where he had celebrated his first solemn mass back in 1905. Of all his numerous postings throughout his career, Cento was perhaps most fond of his tenure in Acireale, "La Città delle Cento Chiese", about which he was quoted more than once saying: "Morirò pensando ad Acireale".