Angelo Vincenzo Zani

Who is Angelo Vincenzo Zani?

Angelo Vincenzo Zani is the current Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education since his appointment was announced by the then-Pope, Benedict XVI, on 9 November 2012, not long before Benedict's resignation. Archbishop Zani had previously served, with the title of Monsignor, as Under-Secretary, or third-ranking official, in the Congregation. Zani was confirmed as Secretary of the Education Congregation by Benedict's successor, Pope Francis, on Saturday, November 30, 2013.

Zani was born in Pralboino Brescia, Italy, in 1950. He studied philosophy and theology at the seminary of Brescia, the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum and the Pontifical Lateran University where he was awarded a STD in theology. Zani was ordained to the priesthood on 20 September 1975. He then attended the Pontifical Gregorian University where he obtained a license in social science.

He then returned to the diocese and served as vice-rector. From 1983-1995 he taught at the Salesian Philosophical-Theological Institute and "Sociology of Religion" at the Paul VI Theological Institute.

He assisted in the foundation of the Institute of Religious Studies at the Catholic University of Brescia, he taught a course"Teaching of Religion" from 1990 until 1995. From 1981 to 1995 he served as Director at the Diocesan Pastoral Office as well as secretary of the Board and priestly ministry and as head of a school. During these years Zani was also director of the Episcopal Conference of Lombardy for the pastoral care of the schools. From 1995 to 2002, he was appointed director of the National Bureau of Education, the schools and universities of the Italian Episcopal Conference.