on 9 august 1883, francica was appointed auxiliary bishop of caltanissetta and titular bishop of "alabanda" by pope leo xiii, receiving his episcopal consecration on the following 21 october from bishop giovanni guttadauro di reburdone. he was promoted to titular archbishop of "heraclea" on 24 may 1889, and later named apostolic nuncio to belgium on 6 june 1889, archbishop of catania on 18 march 1895 as well as apostolic nuncio to spain on 6 august 1896.