Paolo Martinelli was born in Milan in 1958; After high school he enters in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, his first vows in 1980; he studied theology in Milan at the theological college of the Capuchins; he was ordained priest in 1985; He worked for several years at the Institute of the Holy Family of Cesano Boscone as responsible for the pastoral animation at the disabled people; in 1988 he began his graduate studies in theology in Rome at the Pontifical Antonianum University where he obtained the license and Ph.D in theology with a thesis on Hans Urs von Balthasar.
In 1992 he began teaching as a visiting professor at the same university.
Since 1993 he is professor at the Pontifical University Antonianum in which he became a full professor of Theology of the states of life and where he serves as Dean of the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality from 2004 to 2014. He has been a consultant for the Synod of Bishops, of the Congregation for the doctrine of the faith; still is a advisor of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; on 24 May 2014 he was appointed by Pope Francis titular Bishop of Musti in Numidia and Auxiliary of Milan.
Ordained Bishop in the Cathedral of Milan on June 28 of that year, he is currently the Episcopal Vicar for Consecrated Life for the diocese Ambrosiana.
He is the author of several books and articles on spiritual theology and the various vocations in the Church.