Fr. Gottfried Ugolini was born in 1958 in northern Italy, and in 1987, he became a diocesan priest. 

From 1991 to 1995, Fr. Gottfried attended the Institute of Psychology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Afterwards, he worked mostly in the formation and accompaniment of seminarians, priests, religious, and lay people. Later he did a formation program in trauma psychology. 

Since 2010, he has been engaged in the field of safeguarding of minors for his diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone and other dioceses. He participated in the first Diploma in Safeguarding course (2016), and now he joins the teaching staff, bringing to the table his own experiences in the field since having completed the course himself.

Fr. Gottfried is a member of the Commission of the Italian Bishops conference for safeguarding of minors and vulnerable adults.