The Bishop
S.E.R. Mons. Gianmarco Busca
Bishop of Mantua.
President of the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy.
Delegate of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) for International Eucharistic Congresses.
Training and Priestly Ministry
After completing high school, he entered the seminary and attended philosophical and theological courses at the “Paolo VI” theological institute in Brescia.
On June 8, 1991, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Bruno Foresti.
From 1991 to 1994, he served as an assistant parish priest in Borno. He then pursued studies in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1994 to 1999, where he earned his doctorate with a thesis on the reform of the sacrament of penitential reconciliation. Upon returning to the diocese, he served as the vice-rector of the diocesan seminary during the theological biennium until 2004 and as a teacher of sacramental theology at the theological institute of the same diocesan seminary.
Episcopal Ministry
On June 3, 2016, Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Mantova; he succeeded Roberto Busti, who resigned due to reaching the age limit. On the following September 11, he received episcopal ordination in the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Brescia, from Bishop Luciano Monari, with Archbishop Bruno Foresti and Bishop Roberto Busti as co-consecrators. On October 2, he took possession of the diocese in the co-cathedral basilica of Sant’Andrea in Mantova.
He is the delegate for the Italian Federation of Spiritual Exercises at the Lombard Episcopal Conference.
On May 26, 2021, the Italian Episcopal Conference, assembled in general assembly, elected him president of the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy.
The episcopal coat of arms is an emblem of profound theological significance that represents the identity and spiritual mission of the bishop within his diocese. This symbol, laden with history and faith, is placed in various prominent positions within the ecclesiastical community, including sacred buildings, official documents, and liturgical vestments, to underline the presence and authority of the bishop.
Now we present to you the description of the coat of arms of the bishop of Mantova, a symbol that encapsulates his spiritual role and that is located in multiple significant contexts within the diocese, including the main door of the cathedral.
Per fess: in the 1st field Azure, a bar wavy Argent, surmounted by three stars (8) Or, disordered, united with each other; in the 2nd of the same, a tree eradicated and inverted proper, leaved Vert, with the roots extended into the 1st, accompanied by a pomegranate proper, opened Gules, leaved and stemmed Vert, and by an owl proper, placed on the partition.