Vittorio Francesco Viola

Vittorio Francesco Viola, O.F.M. (born 4 October 1965) is an Italian Catholic prelate who joined the Roman Curia in May 2021 as secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments with the rank of archbishop. A member of the Order of Friars Minor, he was Bishop of Tortona from 2014 to 2021.

Viola's education specialized in liturgy; he has taught sacred liturgy at several institutions, managed the liturgy office of the Ecclesiastical Region of Umbria for almost two decades, and served as a member of the Italian Bishops Conference's commission for liturgy.

Early years Vittorio Francesco Viola was born on 4 October 1965 in Biella. He concentrated on science in high school and enrolled in university planning to study medicine, but after participating in Franciscan programs for young people he entered the Order of Friars Minor. He studied at the Theological Institute of Assisi and the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Liturgy in Rome, where he obtained his licentiate in liturgy. At the same university in 2000 he obtained his doctorate in sacred liturgy. The school is well known for its commitment to the program of the Second Vatican Council and how it understands liturgy.

On 14 September 1991 he took his solemn vows in the Order of Friars Minor in Santa Maria degli Angeli. He was ordained as a deacon on 4 July 1992 and as a priest on 3 July 1993 by Luca Brandolini, Auxiliary Bishop of Rome. He later told an interviewer that he developed his administrative skills at Caritas.

He has taught sacred liturgy at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Liturgy, the Theological Institute of Assisi, and the Institute of Religious Sciences in Assisi.

Bishop On 15 October 2014, Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Tortona. On 14 December he took possession of the diocese. According to Edgar Beltrán, writing in The Pillar, both Viola and Grillo were deeply involved in the drafting and implementation of Traditionis custodes, issued under the pontificate of Pope Francis, which imposed draconian restrictions on the TLM, as well as authoring subsequent proposed restrictions which did not come to fruition.

Curial service Viola had a private audience with Pope Francis on 14 January 2021. On 27 May 2021, Pope Francis appointed him secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, raising him to the rank of archbishop and giving him the title Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Tortona. He became apostolic administrator of Tortona.

Honors On 16 September 2017, Viola was made an honorary conventual chaplain of the Knights of Malta.

On 27 December 2017, he was made a commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

Works