{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = cardinal | honorific-prefix = His Eminence | name = Giovanni Cheli | native_name = | native_name_lang = | title = President of the [[Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants]] | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | church = | archdiocese = | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = SS Cosma e Damiano | elected = | appointed = 18 September 1986 (Pro-Prefect) | term = | term_start = | quashed = | term_end = 15 June 1998 | predecessor = [[Emanuele Clarizio]] | opposed = | successor = [[Stephen Fumio Hamao]] | other_post = [[Santi Cosma e Damiano, Rome|Cardinal-Priest of SS Cosma e Damiano]] <!---------- Orders ---------->| ordination = 21 June 1942 | ordained_by = Umberto Rossi | consecration = 16 September 1978 | consecrated_by = [[Jean-Marie Villot]] | cardinal = 21 February 1998 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]] | rank = Cardinal-Priest <!---------- Personal details ---------->| birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|10|04|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Turin]], [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]] | death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|02|08|1918|10|04|df=yes}} | death_place = | buried = | nationality = Italian | religion = [[Roman Catholic]] | residence = | parents = | previous_post = {{unbulleted list|Titular Archbishop of Santa Giusta (1978–1998)|Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations (1978–1986)|Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Cosma e Damiano (1998–2008)}} | education = | alma_mater = | motto = ''unitas in charitate'' | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Giovanni Cheli.svg | coat_of_arms_alt = | other = | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of the Crown of Italy|OCI]]|size=100%}} }}{{Infobox cardinal styles | image = Coat of arms of Giovanni Cheli.svg | image_size = 200px | cardinal name = Giovanni Cheli | dipstyle = [[His Eminence]] | offstyle = Your Eminence | relstyle = [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] | deathstyle = | see = Santa Giusta ([[titular see]]) }} '''Giovanni Cheli''' (4 October 1918 – 8 February 2013) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, who had a career in the diplomatic service of the [[Holy See]] and then in the senior ranks of the [[Roman Curia]]. He was made a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] in 1998.
==Early years== Cheli was born in [[Turin]], Italy. He was educated at the seminary of Asti and soon developed his skills in [[canon law]]. At the [[Pontifical Lateran University]] in Rome, he obtained his doctorate in that subject in 1942 and was ordained on 21 April of that year. Cheli returned to the parish of Asti and became diocesan vice-counselor of the ''Young Men of [[Catholic Action]]''.
==Diplomat== He prepared for a career in the diplomatic corps at the [[Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy]]|language =it|access-date = 30 July 2019 | title = Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999 |url = https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdeccles/documents/1950-1999.htm }}</ref> He entered the Vatican diplomatic service in 1952. At first, Cheli had the minor role of [[attaché]] of the nunciature in [[Guatemala]] and then in more important roles in Spain and Italy. He also did pastoral work in [[Madrid]] and worked for the [[Secretariat of State (Holy See)|Pontifical Council for Public Affairs]] from 1967 to 1973.
He became Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in 1973.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/28/archives/laird-a-stayer-denies-rumors-of-quitting-notes-on-people.html | access-date = 30 July 2019 | date = 28 July 1973 | work= The New York Times | title = Laird, a 'Stayer,' Denies Rumors of Quitting}}</ref> By this time Cheli was known for his knowledge of the problems the Vatican encountered relating to the communist nations of Eastern Europe.
On 8 September 1978, [[Pope John Paul I]] named him [[titular archbishop]] of Santa Giusta and gave him the rank of nuncio,<ref name=vaticanbio>{{cite web| accessdate = 30 July 2019| title= Cheli Card. Giovanni |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_cheli_g.html }}</ref> though his title remained permanent observer. He received his episcopal consecration on 16 September.<ref name=vaticanbio/>
==Roman Curia== He was named Pro-Prefect of the [[Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People|Pontifical Commission for Migration and Tourism]] on 18 September 1986, and his title changed to president when it was reorganized as the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People in 1988.<ref name=vaticanbio/>
John Paul II made Cheli [[Cardinal-Deacon]] of [[Santi Cosma e Damiano, Rome|Santi Cosma e Damiano]] in the [[Papal consistory|consistory]] of 21 February 1998. On 1 March 2008, he was elevated to [[Cardinal-Priest]].
On 15 June 1998, he retired from his role at the Pontifical Council upon the appointment of his successor, [[Stephen Fumio Hamao]].
He continued to be outspoken in retirement. He criticized the rule excluding cardinals over the age of 80 from participating in a papal conclave. He told a journalist in December 2003: "It is a great deprivation for cardinals. Perhaps different limits can be used in future. Perhaps those whose minds have gone should not vote. We all know who they are. And some of them are in their seventies."<ref>{{cite news | work = [[The Guardian]] | access-date = 30 July 2019| url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/26/catholicism.religion | title = Cardinals rebel at second-class status| date= 25 October 2003 |first= Sophie | last = Arie }}</ref> Behind the scenes he participated in a campaign in opposition to [[Pope Benedict XVI]]'s appointments of [[Tarcisio Bertone]] as Secretary of State, believing Bertone lacked the requisite diplomatic experience.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/67801?eng=y |title=A Change of Tune in the Vatican – And Not Only in the Secretariat of State |work = La Repubblica |date= 27 June 2006| first = Sandro | last = Magister |accessdate= 30 July 2019}}</ref>
He was decorated with the [[Order of Isabel the Catholic]] and named commendatore of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]], and of the Verdienstkreuz of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Cheli died on 8 February 2013 of natural causes, at the age of 94. His funeral was held on 9 February at [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in Vatican City with Cardinal [[Angelo Sodano]] celebrating the Mass.<ref name=Death>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/33794/Cardinal-Giovanni-Cheli-dies--94-years-old.html |title=Cardinal Giovanni Cheli dies, 94 years old |publisher=Gazzettadelsud.it |accessdate=8 February 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030558/http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/33794/Cardinal-Giovanni-Cheli-dies--94-years-old.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}}
* [https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1998.htm#Cheli Biography]
{{s-start}} {{succession box | title=[[Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations]] | before=[[Alberto Giovannetti]]| after=[[Renato Raffaele Martino]] | years=25 July 1973 – 18 September 1986 }} {{s-end}}
{{Cardinals created by John Paul II}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheli, Giovanni}} [[Category:1918 births]] [[Category:2013 deaths]] [[Category:Clergy from Turin]] [[Category:Permanent observers of the Holy See to the United Nations]] [[Category:20th-century Italian cardinals]] [[Category:20th-century Italian Roman Catholic titular archbishops]] [[Category:Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] [[Category:Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy alumni]] [[Category:Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II]] [[Category:Pontifical Lateran University alumni]] [[Category:Diplomats from Turin]] [[Category:21st-century Italian cardinals]] [[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope John Paul I]]