Early life and ordination

He was ordained a priest on 12 March 1960 and began his ministry at the Diocese of Fiesole.

Bishop

On 29 October 1987 he became the Auxiliary bishop

Auxiliary bishop

An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...

 of the Diocese of Rome

Diocese of Rome

The Diocese of Rome is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Rome, Italy. The bishop of Rome is the Pope, who is the Supreme Pontiff and leader of the Catholic Church...

 and he received the Holy Order on 7 December 1987 by Cardinal Ugo Poletti. He became Military ordinariate of Italy on 31 January 1996. He was promoted to Archbishop of Cagliari on 20 June 2003 after Archbishop Ottorino Pietro Alberti left the office.