Bishop Ovidio Vezzoli

The Pope has appointed Father Ovidio Vezzoli—a priest of the Diocese of Brescia who has served as a lecturer, Prefect of Studies at the diocesan seminary, and diocesan librarian—as Bishop of the Diocese of Fidenza. Father Vezzoli was born in Adro (Brescia) on January 2, 1956. He studied at the Seminary of Brescia, attending the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy, and was ordained a priest in Brescia on June 14, 1980. He served as parochial vicar at Sant’Apollonio in Lumezzane from 1980 to 1985; from 1985 to 1991, he studied in Padua (at the Santa Giustina Institute), where he earned a degree in Theology with a specialization in liturgy. Subsequently, he served in the Curia as Secretary of the Secretariat for the Liturgy from 1985 to 1993. Concurrently, starting in 1988, he led the "Tempi dello Spirito" (Times of the Spirit) Secretariat until 1991. From 1991 to 1999, he served as the Bishop's private secretary; from 1991 onwards, he taught Liturgy at the seminary and served for about ten years as Prefect of Studies and Librarian. He has consistently provided pastoral service on Sundays and feast days in diocesan parishes, specifically in Bagolino (2004–2013) and Pompiano (2013–2016). Currently, he teaches Liturgy at the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences, an institution promoted by the Catholic University of Milan (Brescia campus). He is the author of several publications on liturgical and pastoral topics.