Donato Ogliari

Donato Ogliari, OSB (born 10 December 1956) is an Italian Catholic prelate who has served as abbot of the Benedictine monastery at Saint Paul outside the Walls since June 2022. He previously served as Abbot of Montecassino from 2014 to 2022, and has been a member of the Dicastery for Bishops since 2022.

Biography

Early life Ogliari was born in Erba, Lombardy, Italy on 10 December 1956, and was raised in Asso. According to an interview on TV2000, he had an inclination towards the priesthood from the age of four or five. As a schoolchild in Asso, he encountered a priest of the Consolata Missionaries, who invited him to join the community. He celebrated his first Mass in Asso, where his family still lives. Two years later he transferred to the Abbey of the Madonna della Scala in Noci, Bari. In 1992, he professed solemn vows and afterwards became the editor of the magazine "La Scala" from 1990 to 2014, Novice master from 1993 to 1999, and Prior-administrator from 2004 to 2006. He was installed as abbot by cardinal Marc Ouellet in November of the same year at the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, becoming the 192nd abbot of Montecassino. In 2015, the Episcopal Conference of Italy appointed him a member of their Commission for Liturgy. Ogliari denied ever receiving such an invitation and stated he would not attend the event, which was eventually cancelled due to controversy. He was selected as one of two speakers for the General Congregation of Cardinals for the 2025 papal conclave along with Raniero Cantalamessa. He spoke on Monday, 28 April and reflected on the needs of the church as they apply to the upcoming conclave, as well as the importance of synodality. He is fluent in English, Flemish, and his native Italian. Ogliari also writes on spiritual and theological topics, having published numerous articles and books.