[1][2] Born in Santa Giulia di Centaura, Lavagna, in the province of Genoa and diocese of Chiavari, on 20 February 1932, the youngest of three brothers.
On 15 December 1980 Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop of Savona and also Noli.
Archbishop Giovanni Canestri (later cardinal) and he received episcopal ordination from bishop Belchior Joaquim da Silva Neto on 6 January 1981, in the Vatican.
On 19 December 1998 Pope John Paul II named him bishop of Brescia and 28 February 1999 he took possession of the diocese.
On 19 July 2007 Pope Benedict XVI accepted his renunciation, presented due to age limits; Luciano Monari succeeded him, until then bishop of Piacenza-Bobbio.