He was born in Travagliato (Brescia, Italy) on July 14, 1953. He entered the Congregation in Desenzano on September 22, 1964. He was admitted to the Novitiate on September 29, 1969, in Zagarolo. He made his first profession in Rome on September 29, 1970, and his perpetual profession in Grottaferrata on September 29, 1979. He was ordained a priest in Pievedizio (Brescia) on June 21, 1980.

He carried out the first years of his apostolate, until 1985, in the formation of seminarians in Palermo. He left for the Philippines from the missions and stayed there from 1986 to 1998, playing different roles in the formation of young religious students in Manila and actively collaborating as a member of the Government of the Philippine-Indian Delegation. In 1995, he was appointed as Novice Master. During the General Chapter of 1998, he was elected General Councilor for the field of formation. He played this role, along with the other tasks assigned to him, as Superior in charge of the International Theological Center of Studies of Grottaferrata. In 2005, when he returned to the Philippines, he resumed the office of Novice Master until 2016, when he returned to Italy for health reasons. He fought the illness with great fortitude, preserving his usual good humor and dedicating himself, until the end, to the translation of texts concerning the charism of the Congregation. In May 2020, his health worsened. On May 19, Father General paid him a visit, and on May 21, he fell asleep peacefully in the Lord.

Fr. Cesare, generous and always available, had a strong character, determined and even demanding, with the firmness of the educator and the sweetness of an authentic father and brother. He was simple, humble, modest, and poor. He had very special attention to the poor and the sick.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, his friend since the early days of Fr. Cesare’s stay in the Philippines, testified of him: "a good person, a wonderful man and priest."