Bishop Guido Marini ceases to be master of pontifical celebrations

Bishop Guido Marini was appointed by Pope Francis Bishop of Tortona, Italy, and will leave his post as Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations.

Bishop Marini will replace the head of the diocese of Tortona by Bishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, recently appointed secretary of the dicastery for divine worship. The Holy See has not communicated who will be the new Master of the pontifical liturgical celebrations.

The diocese of Tortona to which Bishop Marini has been assigned is located in the Piedmont region, in northern Italy, and is one of the oldest in the country.

Bishop Guido Marini was born on January 31, 1965 in Genoa, Italy. After completing the route from high school, he entered the Seminary of Genoa where he obtained his degree in theology.

After being ordained a priest on February 4, 1989, he completed his academic training with a doctorate both rights, that is to say in civil law and canon law at the Pontifical University of Latrannaise, and graduated in psychology of communication from the Pontifical Salesian University in 2007,

He was private secretary between 1988 and 1995 to Cardinal Giovanni Canestri, then Archbishop of Genoa, and to his successors Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi between 1995 and 2002, and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone between 2002 and 2003.

In the diocese of Genoa, he was also master of ceremonies, a task he carried out with great care, paying particular attention to the preparation of liturgical texts. For this mission, he promoted the Laurentian College, composed of volunteers who were in charge of order within the Cathedral.

Bishop Marini held other positions of particular importance within the Diocese of Genoa: Director of the Diocesan Office of Education, elected member of the Presbyteral Council, Archbishop Chancellor, Secretary of the Episcopal Council, Professor of Canon Law, Canon of the cathedral of San Lorenzo, prefect of the said cathedral and spiritual director of the seminary.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations and Honorary Prelate of His Holiness on October 1, 2007. The first pontifical celebration he led took place in the Vatican Caves on November 2, 2007 on the occasion of prayer for deceased Popes at the Commemoration of the Fallen Faithful.

Pope Francis confirmed him as master of the pontifical liturgical celebrations and in 2019 appointed him responsible for the pontifical musical chapel.

During the 2018-2019 academic year he was visiting professor of papal liturgy at the Pontifical Athenaeum of San Anselmo.

Since his priestly ordination, he has developed his ministry in the field of preaching spiritual exercises, spiritual direction, accompaniment of certain groups of young people and spiritual assistant of certain religious communities.