Giovanni Canestri (born 30 September 1918) is an Italian Catholic clergyman, currently Archbishop Emeritus of Genoa. Born in in Castelspina, province of Alessandria, he was ordained priest on April 12, 1941 and began his pastoral ministry in Rome. In August 1959 he was nominated spiritual director of the Pontifical Major Roman Seminary and was member of the commission for the first diocesan synod of Rome. He also served as Apostolic examiner of the clergy. On March 22, 1984 he was nominated Archbishop of Cagliari. On July 6, 1987 he was transferred to the metropolitan see of Genoa.