Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Syria, was born in Rosegaferro di Villafranca (Verona, Italy) on 5 January 1946.  He was ordained a priest on 5 July 1970 and incardinated in the Diocese of Verona. He has a degree in canon law.

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1980 and subsequently served at the Papal Representations in Senegal, Liberia, Colombia, Germany and Romania. On 25 March 1993 he was appointed Counsellor of the Nunciature.

On 7 February 1994 he was appointed Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and to the United Nations Office at Vienna.

On 12 July 1999, Pope John Paul II appointed him Apostolic Nuncio in Ivory Coast and Niger, and at the same time elevated him to the titular see of Zuglio with the dignity of Archbishop. A few days later, on 24 July, he was appointed Nuncio in Burkina Faso. He was consecrated a bishop on 25 September of the same year.

On 10 May 2004 he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio in Sri Lanka and on 30 December 2008 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Apostolic Nuncio in Syria.

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 19 November 2016, and was assigned the deaconry of Santa Maria delle Grazie alle Fornaci fuori Porta Cavalleggeri. 

Member of:

• Dicastery for the Oriental Churches.