cacciavillan was born in novale di valdagno. he studied at the seminary of vicenza, and was ordained to the priesthood on 26 june 1949. he served as a curate for three years and then obtained a licentiate in social sciences at the pontifical gregorian university and at sapienza university earned a doctorate in jurisprudence. in preparation for a diplomat’s career, he completed the course of study at the pontifical ecclesiastical academy in 1957.