He was born in Sezzadio, Italy. He was educated at the Seminary of Acqui. He was ordained on 22 May 1937. From 1938 until 1942 he continued his studies at the Pontifical Lateran University where he earned a doctorate in utroque iure (in both canon and civil law). He later studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome where from 1941 until 1943 he studied diplomacy.
Early priesthood
He joined the Vatican Secretariat of State (section of Ordinary Affairs) in 1942. He was the secretary in the nunciature in Haiti and Dominican Republic from 1946 until 1950 when he was promoted to be the Auditor in the apostolic delegation to the United States, until 1953. He served as auditor in Canada and in Australia also. He was transferred to be the counselor in the nunciature in Colombia from 1958 until 1960. He was in charge, provisionally, of the nunciature in Venezuela in April 1960, until he himself was named Nuncio in Venezuela on 28 October 1961.
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