Bishop of Bergamo
Bishop Francesco Beschi, Bishop of Bergamo, was born on August 6, 1951, in Brescia, in the province and Diocese of Brescia. He completed his studies at the seminary of Brescia and was ordained a priest for Brescia on June 7, 1975. At the beginning of his priesthood he was vicar cooperator at Villaggio Sereno II in Brescia and then vicar cooperator in the cathedral of Brescia. For several years he served as director of the office for the family and director of the Paul VI Centre, and he was subsequently appointed episcopal vicar for the laity and pro-vicar general. On March 25, 2003, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Vinda and Auxiliary Bishop of Brescia. He received episcopal ordination on May 18, 2003, at Brescia, with Giulio Sanguineti as principal consecrator and Bruno Foresti and Vigilio Mario Olmi as co-consecrators. On January 22, 2009, he was appointed Bishop of Bergamo, and he was installed on March 15, 2009. Within the Italian Episcopal Conference he has served as a member of the Episcopal Commission for the Evangelisation of Peoples and Cooperation between the Churches.