A practicing pediatrician, he received his Medical Degree and specialization in pediatrics from the University of Bologna (Bologna, Italy), a Bachelor in Theology from Centre Sèvres (Paris, France), a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, a Ph.D. in Theological Ethics from Boston College, and a second doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Faculty of Theology of Southern Italy. His research interests include: fundamental moral theology, biotechnologies, reproductive technologies, end of life issues, medical ethics, genetics, and environmental issues.