In his childhood he wanted nothing more than to become a priest in the missions but was dissuaded from this on account of his delicate health. But his doctor uncle Carlo inspired him to learn medicine and he soon became resolved to become a doctor. He attended two schools as a child at villages near his and then went to Milan where he attended a junior high school. He completed his high school studies as a boarder at Augustine's College in Pavia where - after graduation - he enrolled in the medical department of the Pavia college. Whilst he studied there he was an active member of the college's Severino Boezio Club for Catholic Action. He also belonged to the Società San Vincenzo de' Paoli and the Third Order of Saint Francis which he joined as a secular on 20 March 1921 in the name of "Antonio" at the Franciscan convent of Canepanova in Pavia.