Career
He was ordained priest on 3 December 1972 by Albino Luciani, Cardinal Patriarch of Venice (later Pope John Paul I). From 1972 to 1987, he was an assistant pastor, and from 1987 to 2002 pastor of San Trovaso, Venice and in charge of campus ministry. From 1996 to 2002 he was assistant to some Catholic organizations and from 1997 to 2002 Pro-Vicar Forane.
Bishop
On 5 January 2008 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Auxiliary bishop of Venice and Titular Bishop of Aemona.
He was consecrated by Cardinal Angelo Scola, Patriarch of Venice with Patriarch Emeritus Cardinal Marco Cé and Eugenio Ravignani, Bishop of Trieste, as co-consecrators. On 16 April 2011 he was appointed Bishop of Vicenza.
On 9 September he was appointed as Apostolic Administrator of Venice, pending the appointment of a new Patriarch, who was instaled on 25 March 2012.