Francesco Alfano was born on 13 June 1956 in the comune of Nocera Inferiore in Campania, Italy.

[1] Over the course of his priesthood, Alfano has held the position of assistant vicar of San Bartolomeo Apostolo in Nocera Inferioie from 1982 to 1986, parish priest at Santa Maria della Grazie in the hamlet of Casali in Roccapiemonte from 1986 to 1989, parish priest at Santa Maria della Grazie in Angri from 1989, director of the Diocesan Institute of Religious Services from 1992 to 1996, and was responsible for training seminarians from 1993 to 2002.

In 2001, he became episcopal vicar for the clergy in the diocese, and was the diocesan assistant to the youth of Azione Cattolica.

[1] On 10 March 2012, he was appointed Archbishop of Sorrento-Catellammare di Stabia, but continued to serve as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi-Conza-Nusco-Bisaccia until 6 January 2013.

[1] As Archbishop of Sorrento-Catellammare di Stabia, he resides in the archiepiscopal seminary "Alfonso Sozy Carafa" in Vico Equense.