He then became assistant pastor in the parish of St. Joseph in San Severino Marche and taught religion in state schools.

From 1968 to 1991 he served in the Roman Curia in the Apostolic Signatura, then from 1992 to 1994 in the secretariat for the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, where he met the Cardinal Achille Silvestrini and became his secretary.

He was consecrated bishop on 9 July in Rome by Cardinal Silvestrini, with Archbishops Antony Valentini and Piergiorgio Nesti as co-consecrators.

On 8 January 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Ancona-Osimo, and he took possession of the archdiocese on 7 March.

On 15 October 2014, on reaching his 75th birthday, he submitted his resignation as require by canon law but Pope Francis has extended the appointment for one year.