[1][2][3] Cantoni was given a delegation of the Bishops' Conference of Lombardy for consecrated life and became part of the homologous episcopal commission of the CEI.

In 2009, after two years of intensive preparatory work in Uni-Crema, 'the free university for adulthood', he 'contributed to the promotion of cultural and social citizenship' in the groove of 'Christian humanism and Christian tradition'.

In September 2010 he became the first bishop in Italy to organize and launch a 'youth mission' diocesan, a peaceful invasion of 'minstrels of God' in order to communicate His friendship and His benison not only in churches but in nightclubs, theatres, through sport, etc.

At the end of his pastoral visit, in 2011, he organized an ecclesial assembly 'in order to prepare our Church to face the times ahead,' open to all different parts of the diocese: priests, associations and groups and individual believers.

[5] On 27 August, Pope Francis made him a cardinal priest, assigning him the title of Santa Maria Regina Pacis a Monte Verde.