The prelate will succeed Bishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, recently called to the Vatican as secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship.

Newsroom (August 31, 2021, 9:15 AM, Gaudium Press) After 14 years of service, the Master of pontifical liturgical celebrations, Monsignor Guido Marini, will leave the Vatican to take over the Italian Diocese of Tortona. The prelate will succeed Bishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, recently called to the Vatican as secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship.

Monsignor Guido Marini

Monsignor Guido Marini was ordained priest by Cardinal Giovanni Canestri, becoming his private secretary, as well as that of the successive Archbishops Dionigi Tettamanzi and Tarcisio Bertone.

He became Master of the liturgical celebrations of the Archdiocese and founded the “Collegium Laurentianum”, an association of volunteers for the service of the order and reception of the cathedral. He was also in charge of the school of the Archdiocese, spiritual director of the seminary, where he taught Canon Law, and then chancellor of the Curia and prefect of the cathedral.

Master of liturgical celebrations for the Supreme Pontiff

Appointed Master of liturgical celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff by Benedict XVI in October 2007, he succeeded Archbishop Piero Marini, who accompanied a good part of the long pontificate of Saint John Paul II. He was the director of liturgies during Benedict XVI’s pontificate, in Rome and during his trips around the world.

In 2013, during the election of Pope Francis, he dedicated himself entirely to the new Pontiff. In January 2019, he assumed leadership of the Sistine Choir, the Pontifical Music Chapel. On March 27, 2020, he began the recitation of the Statio Orbis, the Pope’s solitary prayer calling for an end to the pandemic. (EPC)

Compiled by Sarah Gangl