Louis DeSimone was born Feb. 21, 1922, in Philadelphia; His parents Anthony and Nicolina DeSimone were Italian immigrants. He was raised in Bridgeport, Pa., and graduated from what was then named Villanova College. His family was devoutly Catholic, and both he and his two brothers joined the priesthood. His father was a barber and would often give free haircuts to the less fortunate.

In 1941 during World War II he joined the Army. “I chose the Army because my father (Anthony DeSimone) was an American soldier in France during World War I,” Bishop DeSimone said. “I wasn’t sorry to go in, I wanted to serve my country.”