Francesco Sisci (August 5, 1960) is an Italian sinologist, author and columnist who lives and works in Beijing.
Currently he is a senior researcher at China's People's University and contributes to several journals and think tanks on geopolitical issues.
In 2016, he was granted the first interview to the Pope on China .
The interview has received widespread coverage in the Chinese press, for the first time in the history of the Chinese Communist Party.
He was a contributor for Il Sole 24ore and for Asia Times with the column Sinograph and a frequent commentator on international affairs for CCTV and Phoenix TV.