About the Author
His Eminence, Giacomo Biffi was born in Milan in 1928 and was ordained priest for that diocese in 1950. After graduate studies in theology, he taught for several years in the archdiocesan seminary. He was a parish priest from 1960-1975, before becoming Canon Theologian of the Metropolitan Chapter, Episcopal Vicar for Culture and Director of the Lombard Institute. During this period, he also had responsibility for the Commission for the Ambrosian Rite. He was named an Auxiliary Bishop for Milan and was consecrated Titular Bishop of Fidene in 1976. From then until 1982, he served on the Episcopal Commission of the Italian Bishop's Conference for the doctrine of the faith, for catechesis and for culture, of which he became Secretary in 1979. In 1982 he was elected to the Episcopal Commission for the Liturgy. In 1984, he was named Archbishop of Bologna and was elected President of the Episcopal Conference of Emilia-Romagna. He was created Cardinal Priest by Pope John !
Paul II in 1985. He is a member of the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy, for Catholic Education and for the Evangelization of Peoples.
He is the author of numerous theological and catechetical works, and was one of the principle collaborators in the publication of the 'Opera Omnia di S. Ambrogio (1979) and the 'Opera Omnia di S. Pietro Crisologo' (1996), both published by Citta Nuovo e Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan.
