[2] He graduated in pedagogy from the University of Palermo in 1981, and obtained his license in Canon Law at the "Angelicum" in Rome in 1985.

In the same year he received the Postulator certificate from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and, in 1987, he obtained his doctorate in Canon Law.

[3] On 10 March 2007, it was announced that Bertolone had been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the new bishop of the diocese of Cassano all'Jonio in Calabria.

[2] On 25 March 2011, it was announced that Bertolone had been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the new archbishop of Catanzaro-Squillace, replacing the retiring Antonio Ciliberti.

[7] Pope Francis accepted his resignation on 15 September 2021, two months in advance of his 75th birthday, the usual retirement date.