He received from Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini his formal appointment as lecturer for theological courses at the diocesan major seminary at Venegono Inferiore (February 1, 1997) and on June 3, 1999 was awarded a doctorate in Theology with specialization in Mariology in the Pontifical Theological Faculty Marianum in Rome, with the grade summa cum laude, defending a thesis 'La forma obbedienziale del servizio di Gesù Cristo e di Maria.