Serafino Vannutelli (26 November 1834 – 19 August 1915) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, a cardinal and official of the Roman Curia where he held several of the highest administrative posts.

On 23 July 1869, he was named Apostolic Delegate to Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Central America, which comprised these countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

He was made Apostolic Nuncio to Brussels in 1875, but his role there ended abruptly when the Belgian government broke off diplomatic relations with the Holy See on 28 June 1880.

On 16 January 1893, after Vannutelli reportedly declined an appointment as Secretary of State, Pope Leo XIII named him Archbishop of Bologna, an assignment considered an exile from Rome.

Performing the duties of Dean during the conclave that met in August 1914 proved challenging as he was "almost blind ... stone deaf ... and weakened from nervous prostration".