Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, S.D.B, Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Santiago de Chile, was born in Campiglia dei Berici, Vicenza (Italy), on 7 January 1942. He transferred to Chile in 1959 to carry out his novitiate with the Salesians of Quilpué, Valparaíso, and completed his studies in philosophy at the Catholic University of Valparaíso and in theology at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, where he obtained his licentiate.

He gave his perpetual vows on 30 December 1966 and was ordained a priest on 18 March 1970.

Following ordination, he obtained a licentiate in religious studies at the "Institut de Pastoral catéchétique" of Strasbourg and the title of teacher of religion and philosophy from the Catholic University of Valparaíso.

As a Salesian priest, he belonged to the province of Chile and served in the following positions: head of youth ministry in the Salesian School in Valdivia; director of community and Salesian work in Concepción; member of the provincial council in Chile, director of the Salesian seminary in Santiago de Chile, and provincial inspector of the Salesians in Chile. He was also a teacher at the faculty of theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and vice president of the Conference of Religious of Chile. He participated in the general Chapter of the Salesian Congregation in 1984 and 1990. In 1991, he was appointed as official of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life of the Holy See.

Appointed as bishop of Valdivia on 28 June 1996, he received episcopal ordination on 8 September of the same year.

On 10 July 2001 he was appointed as auxiliary of Santiago de Chile and assigned the titular see of La Imperial. 

On 27 December 2006 he was appointed metropolitan archbishop of Concepción.

On 15 December 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as metropolitan archbishop of Santiago de Chile. He was archbishop  until 23 March 2019.

Since November 2010, he has served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Chile.

He participated in the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2014) on The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization and in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly on The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World (October 2015).

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 22 February 2014, of the Title of Santissimo Redentore a Valmelaina (Most Holy Redeemer in Val Melaina).