 He was elected Abbot of the two monasteries of Subiaco and Abbot General of the Cassinese congregation on 5 June 1896.On 16 April 1900 Serafini was appointed Archbishop of Spoleto by Pope Leo XIII.He received his episcopal consecration on the following 6 May from Cardinal Serafino Vannutelli, with Archbishops Casimiro Gennari and Tommaso Granello, OP serving as co-consecrators.