Vacchelli was born in Longardore di Sospiro in 1937. From 1948 to 1961 he attended the minor and then the major seminary of the
Diocese of Cremona, into which he was incardinated as a cleric. His
priestly ordination was on 27 May 1961. From late 1961 to autumn 1963, he exercised his priestly ministry in the Parish of St. John Cross. He was sent to Rome in 1963 for studies in
Canon Law at the
Pontifical Gregorian University. He was awarded the JCL and returned to his diocese in 1967. In that year he was appointed to the pastoral service of the Parish of St. Peter in Cremona. In 1973 he was appointed secretary of the Bishop and, from 1975, also
chancellor, a post he held until 1986. In 1986 he was appointed Pro-
Vicar General of the diocese. From 1990 to 1993 he acted as Secretary General of the Diocesan Synod. In 1993 he was appointed parish priest and
canon of the Cathedral of Cremona. ==Adjunct Secretary==