The Secretary

His Excellency Most Reverend Vittorio Francesco Viola, O.F.M., was born in Biella on 4 October 1965. After graduating from high school, he entered the Order of Friars Minor of Umbria and attended the Theological Institute in Assisi. He continued his studies at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute (Sant’Anselmo), Rome, where he received his Doctorate in Sacred Liturgy on 19 February 2000.

He made his solemn profession in the Order of Friars Minor of Umbria on 14 September 1991, at Santa Maria degli Angeli; was ordained deacon on 4 July 1992, and priest on 3 July 1993, in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, by Archbishop Luca Brandolini, C.M.

He has held the following positions: Definitor of the Seraphic Province of the Friars Minor of Umbria from 1999 to 2002, from 2003 to 2005, and from 2011 to 2014; Custodian of the Convent and Papal Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in the Porziuncola from 1999 to 2005; Guardian of the Convent at the Basilica of St. Clare in Assisi from 2005 to 2014; Head of the Liturgical Office of the Umbrian Region from 1997 to 2014; Head of the Assisi Diocesan Office for Education, Schools and Universities from 2006 to 2008; Head of Diocesan Caritas from 2008 to 2014.

He has taught at the Theological Institute of Assisi, being an adjunct professor of the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Lateran University. He has been a member of the Council of the National Liturgical Office of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

Since 2000, he has been Professor of Liturgy, at Saint Anselm Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome.

On 15 October 2014, Pope Francis appointed him as the Bishop of the Diocese of Tortona (Italy), and he was ordained at Santa Maria degli Angeli in the Porziuncola, by Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, on 7 December 2014. 

On 27 May 2021, the Holy Father appointed him secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.