Cardinal Mario Zenari is an Italian Vatican diplomat whom Pope Francis took the unusual step of making a cardinal in recognition of his work as apostolic nuncio to Syria during the civil conflict there.

Born on January 5, 1946, in Villafranca, Verona, Italy, Zenari was ordained as a priest on July 5, 1970, and incardinated in the Diocese of Verona.

Zenari entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1980, serving in various papal representations across the globe, including Senegal, Liberia, Colombia, Germany, and Romania.

His expertise in international relations was recognized in his appointment in 1994 as Permanent Observer of the Holy See in Vienna at several international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

In 1999, Pope John Paul II appointed Zenari as the apostolic nuncio to Ivory Coast, Niger, and Burkina Faso, elevating him to the titular see of Zuglio with the dignity of archbishop. He later served as the apostolic nuncio to Sri Lanka from 2004 to 2008 before being appointed to his current position in Syria by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.

Pope Francis elevated him to cardinal in 2016 in recognition of his work for peace and humanitarian assistance. The appointment was particularly significant as it was unusual for a serving nuncio to be made a cardinal, highlighting the importance of his role in Syria during the ongoing civil war.

Throughout his tenure in Syria, Cardinal Zenari has been a vocal advocate for peace and humanitarian aid. He has consistently drawn attention to the plight of the Syrian people, particularly the children, whom he described as “paying the highest price of the conflict.” His efforts to bring international attention to the Syrian crisis have been a hallmark of his work.

In recent years, Cardinal Zenari has spoken out about the devastating impact of poverty in Syria, describing it as a “bomb” that is “killing hope” among the Syrian people. He has highlighted the severe economic challenges faced by Syrians, including food insecurity, lack of basic necessities, and the mass exodus of professionals due to extremely low wages.

Zenari has been critical of international sanctions on Syria, stating they have had catastrophic effects on the population. He has advocated for an “intra-Syrian” solution to the conflict, while acknowledging the challenges posed by external influences

As a Vatican diplomat, Zenari has rarely, if at all, spoken about moral issues or the state of the Church.

Apart from his native Italian, Cardinal Zenari is likely to speak English and French.