of the Paduan Province of St. Anthony
is the 119th Minister General of the
Order of Friars Minor Conventual

Born on June 9, 1957 at Sant’Angelo di Piove, at Padua, his parents are Antonio (deceased) and Santa (94 years old).  He entered the Order at Camposampiero on September 29, 1968, where he attended lower Primary school before going to the Seraphic Seminary of Pedavena (Belluno), and then to Brescia for his last years at the Lyceum-Minor Seminary.  He made his novitiate at the Basilica of St. Anthony (1976-1977) and professed First Vows on September 17, 1977.  He then undertook his Theological studies at the “Sant’Antonio Dottore” Theological Institute, receiving his Bachelors degree in 1982.  On November 28, 1981 he professed his Solemn Vows.  In 1982, he moved to Rome, residing at the Seraphicum, attending courses toward a Licentiate at the Salesian Pontifical University.

He was ordained to the priesthood on March 19, 1983 at Sant’Angelo di Piove, at Padua, his hometown, by Bishop Filippo Franceschi, the Bishop of Padua.  In 1986 he completed his Licentiate in Psychology at the Salesian University, and two years later a Licentiate in Pastoral Theology at the same University.  He returned to his Province, and from 1988 to 1994 was Rector of the Minor Seminary in Brescia, then of the Post-Novitiate in Padua (1994-2001).  He was Professor of Psychology and Catechetics at the “Sant’Antonio Dottore” Theological Institute.  At the Provincial Chapter of 2001 he was elected Custos Capitularis and Guardian of Camposampiero at Padua, which he undertook until 2005 when he was elected Minister Provincial.  He is Vice-President of the Major Superiors’ Conference of Italy and President of the Franciscan Movement of the North-East.

Today, May 26, 2007, at the Sacred Convent in Assisi, the Ordinary General Chapter elected him the 119th successor to St. Francis.