Bishop Daniele Gianotti

The Holy Father Francis has appointed Father Daniele Gianotti—a priest of the Diocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla who has served as a theology lecturer at the Theological Faculty of Emilia-Romagna and as Episcopal Vicar for Culture—as Bishop of the Diocese of Crema. Father Gianotti was born on September 14, 1957, in Calerno, a hamlet of S. Ilario d’Enza in the province of Reggio Emilia. After entering the diocesan minor seminary, he attended middle school and the “Ludovico Ariosto” classical high school in Reggio Emilia. In 1976, he was sent to Rome; as a student at the Almo Collegio Capranica, he pursued philosophy and theology courses at the Pontifical Gregorian University, obtaining a Licentiate in Theology in 1983 and a diploma in Theology and Patristic Sciences from the “Augustinianum” Institute in 1984. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, in his hometown of Calerno, by Bishop Gilberto Baroni, for the Diocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla. Msgr. Gianotti has held the following pastoral roles: Secretary and subsequently Prefect of Studies at the Institute of Religious Sciences (1985–1999); AGESCI Ecclesiastical Assistant for the Reggio Emilia area (1987–1989); member of the College of Consultors (1993–2000); Director of the Diocesan Liturgical Office and coordinator of the diocesan school of liturgical music (1995–2000); Secretary of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council (1990–1999); and Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Care (2000–2005). Since 1985, he has been a lecturer at the Interdiocesan Theological Study Center of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla, Modena, Parma, and Carpi, and at the Institute of Religious Sciences in Reggio Emilia. He has served as a Canon of the Cathedral since 1988 and as Prefect of Studies at the diocesan seminary since 1994. Since 1997, he has taught Systematic Theology and Patrology at the “Studio Teologico Accademico Bolognese” (Regional Seminary Section) and at the Higher Institutes of Religious Sciences in Bologna and Modena; since 1999, he has been the Bishop’s Delegate for the ongoing formation of young clergy; since 2000, he has held the roles of Bishop’s Appointee for the administration of Confirmation and Episcopal Vicar for pastoral planning and formation; since 2001, he has been a permanent extraordinary lecturer in Systematic Theology at the Theological Faculty of Emilia-Romagna; and since 2005, he has served as Episcopal Vicar for Culture. He has also collaborated with the Bishop during the pastoral visitation and served as a member of the Commission for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue. Furthermore, he has been active in promoting vocations, has gained recognition as a speaker, and has facilitated lay formation for the diocesan mission in Kibungo (Rwanda). He was one of the initiators of the “Hospice” project—active since 2001—which provides care for terminally ill cancer patients in the province of Reggio Emilia and serves as a cultural center for reflection on the theme of death in the Christian life. He is also the author of various publications on patristic and liturgical subjects.