eliseo antonio ariotti was born on 17 november 1948 in vailate, province of cremona, italy. he was ordained a priest of the diocese of cremona on 7 may 1975. he entered the vatican’s diplomatic service on 10 may 1984 and served in uganda, syria, malta, the united states, and in rome in the offices of the secretariat of state, followed by an assignment in spain and three years in france.