# Luigi Poggi

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Italian Catholic prelate and spymaster (1917–2010)

For the Italian sailor, see [Luigi Poggi (sailor)](/source/Luigi_Poggi_(sailor)).

His Eminence Luigi Poggi Cardinal Archivist of the Vatican Secret Archive Poggi in Rome, 1981 Church Catholic Appointed 29 November 1994 Term ended 7 March 1998 Predecessor Antonio María Javierre Ortas Successor Jorge María Mejía Other post Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucina (2005‍–‍2010) Previous posts Apostolic Delegate to Central Africa (1965‍–‍1969) Titular Archbishop of Forontoniana (1965‍–‍1994) Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Cameroon (1966‍–‍1969) Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Gabon (1967‍–‍1969) Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the Central African Republic (1967‍–‍1969) Apostolic Nuncio to Peru (1969‍–‍1973) Delegation Chief to Poland (1975‍–‍1986) Apostolic Nuncio to Italy (1986‍–‍1992) Librarian of the Vatican Apostolic Library (1992‍–‍1994) Archivist Emeritus of the Vatican Secret Archive (1994‍–‍2010) Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria in Domnica (1994‍–‍2005) Cardinal Protodeacon (2002‍–‍2005) Orders Ordination 28 July 1940 Consecration 9 May 1965 by Amleto Giovanni Cicognani Created cardinal 26 November 1994 by Pope John Paul II Rank Cardinal-deacon (1994‍–‍2005) Cardinal-priest (2005‍–‍2010) Personal details Born Luigi Poggi (1917-11-25)25 November 1917 Piacenza, Kingdom of Italy Died 4 May 2010(2010-05-04) (aged 92) Rome Buried Basilica di Sant'Antonino, Piacenza, Italy Education Collegio Alberoni Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy Motto In fide et caritate (Latin for 'In faith and love') Coat of arms

**Luigi Poggi** (25 November 1917 – 4 May 2010) was an Italian [Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) [prelate](/source/Prelate), [nuncio](/source/Nuncio), and [spymaster](/source/Spymaster) who led [The Entity](/source/The_Entity_(intelligence_service)), the [foreign intelligence service](/source/Intelligence_agency) of the [Holy See](/source/Holy_See).

Made [titular bishop](/source/Titular_bishop) of [Forontoniana](/source/Forontoniana) in 1965 upon assignment as nuncio, Poggi officially served as papal representative to several African nations before being reassigned to Europe to advance [Paul VI](/source/Pope_Paul_VI)'s *[Ostpolitik](/source/Ostpolitik)* policy of [rapprochement](/source/Rapprochement) to the [Eastern Bloc](/source/Eastern_Bloc). At the height of the [Cold War](/source/Cold_War) he served as the Vatican's principal emissary to several [Warsaw Pact](/source/Warsaw_Pact) countries, as Popes [Paul VI](/source/Pope_Paul_VI) and [John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) sought renewed engagement with the [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union). Named chief of the [apostolic delegation to Poland](/source/Apostolic_Nunciature_to_Poland) during the 1980s, he led a partnership with the U.S. [Central Intelligence Agency](/source/Central_Intelligence_Agency) to back the [Solidarity movement](/source/Solidarity_(Polish_trade_union)) which eventually led to the [end of Communist rule](/source/History_of_Poland_(1945%E2%80%931989)#Final_decade_of_the_Polish_People's_Republic_(1980–1989)) in the country. Poggi was elevated to [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) in 1994 and ended his career in [Rome](/source/Rome), as [nuncio](/source/Nuncio) to Italy and finally as head of the [Vatican Library](/source/Vatican_Library) and [Secret Archive](/source/Vatican_Secret_Archive).

## Early life

Born in Piacenza, Poggi studied at [Collegio Alberoni](/source/Collegio_Alberoni) prior to priestly ordination in that city. He entered the [Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy](/source/Pontifical_Ecclesiastical_Academy) in 1944 to begin a career in the diplomatic service of the [Holy See](/source/Holy_See).[1] Poggi then joined the [Secretariat of State](/source/Secretariat_of_State_(Holy_See)). Poggi headed a mission to investigate the legal status of [titular churches](/source/Titular_see) in [Tunisia](/source/Tunisia) in 1963 and 1964.

## Papal nuncio

On 3 April 1965, [Pope Paul VI](/source/Pope_Paul_VI) named him a titular archbishop and [Apostolic Delegate](/source/Apostolic_Delegate) to Central Africa,[2] the region that later became the modern states of [Cameroon](/source/Cameroon), Chad, [Congo-Brazzaville](/source/Republic_of_the_Congo), Gabon, and the [Central African Republic](/source/Central_African_Republic). He received his episcopal consecration from Cardinal [Amleto Cicognani](/source/Amleto_Cicognani) on 9 May 1965.[3] As the Vatican established relationships with governments in the region, he was given additional titles: [Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Cameroon](/source/Apostolic_Nunciature_to_Cameroon) on 31 October 1966[4] Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Gabon on 31 October 1967,[5] and Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the Central African Republic on 4 November 1967.[5]

On 21 May 1969, he was named Apostolic Nuncio to Peru.[6]

### Ostpolitik

[Pope Paul VI](/source/Pope_Paul_VI) used Poggi in his "[Ostpolitik](/source/Ostpolitik)", which aimed to improve Vatican relations with the Communist-ruled nations of the [Warsaw Pact](/source/Warsaw_Pact). On 1 August 1973, Pope Paul assigned him a special role as a nuncio responsible for improving relations with Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Rumania and Bulgaria. Early in the pontificate of [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II), Poggi, an expert in Polish politics, was sent first to [Warsaw](/source/Warsaw) and then to [Moscow](/source/Moscow). He later visited [Prague](/source/Prague).

On 7 February 1975, Pope Paul named him to lead a special delegation to Poland.

## Director of The Entity

Poggi served as director of [The Entity](/source/The_Entity_(intelligence_service)) ([Italian](/source/Italian_language): *L’Entità*), the foreign [intelligence service](/source/Intelligence_agency) of the Holy See.[7][8]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (December 2024)

## Later years and death

Poggi's final assignment in the diplomatic service was as Apostolic Nuncio to Italy on 19 April 1986.[9]

In 1992, Poggi became Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church, positions he resigned as required when he turned eighty.

He was made [Cardinal-Deacon](/source/Cardinal-Deacon) of [Santa Maria in Domnica](/source/Santa_Maria_in_Domnica) on 26 November 1994. On 26 February 2002 he became Cardinal [Protodeacon](/source/Protodeacon), the most senior cardinal of the rank deacon, a role with ceremonial duties during a papal conclave and inauguration. After ten years as a cardinal deacon he took the option to be elevated to [Cardinal-Priest](/source/Cardinal-Priest) of [San Lorenzo in Lucina](/source/San_Lorenzo_in_Lucina) on 24 February 2005, just weeks before the death of Pope John Paul.

Poggi died in Rome on 4 May 2010. His funeral was presided over by Dean of the College of Cardinals [Angelo Sodano](/source/Angelo_Sodano), with a homily by [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI), whose letter to Poggi's surviving family spoke of the prelate's "many years of solicitous collaboration with the Holy See."[10]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1900 – 1949"](https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdeccles/documents/1900-1949.htm) (in Italian). [Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy](/source/Pontifical_Ecclesiastical_Academy). Retrieved 24 November 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-57-1965-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. LVII. 1965. pp. 541, 550. Retrieved 24 November 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Cardenal Luigi Poggi"](https://www.aciprensa.com/Cardenales/biografias/poggi). *ACI Prensa* (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 November 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-59-1967-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. LIX. 1967. p. 105. Retrieved 24 November 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aas1967_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aas1967_5-1) [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-60-1968-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. LX. 1968. p. 59. Retrieved 24 November 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-61-1969-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. LXI. 1969. p. 352. Retrieved 24 November 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Colonna Vilasi, Antonella](/source/Antonella_Colonna_Vilasi) (2016). *The Entity: The Vatican Intelligence Service*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781524661694](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781524661694).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_8-0)** Frattini, Eric (2008). *The Entity: Five Centuries of Secret Vatican Espionage*. Translated by Cluster, Dick. [St. Martin's Press](/source/St._Martin's_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-312-37594-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-312-37594-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-78-1986-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. LXXVIII. 1986. p. 480. Retrieved 25 November 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Pontiff at Cardinal's Funeral: New Life Starts Now"](https://zenit.org/articles/pontiff-at-cardinal-s-funeral-new-life-starts-now/). *Zenit*. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2019.

## External links

- [Biography](https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1994.htm#Poggi)

- [Vatican biography](https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_poggi_l_en.html)

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Romolo Carboni Apostolic Nuncio to Italy and San Marino 19 April 1986 – 9 April 1992 Succeeded by Carlo Furno Preceded by Antonio María Javierre Ortas Librarian of the Holy Roman Church 9 April 1992 – 7 March 1998 Succeeded by Jorge María Mejía Preceded by Antonio María Javierre Ortas Archivist of the Holy Roman Church 9 April 1992 – 7 March 1998 Succeeded by Jorge María Mejía Preceded by Pio Laghi Cardinal Protodeacon 26 February 2002 – 24 February 2005 Succeeded by Jorge Medina Estévez

v t e Cardinals created by John Paul II 1979 Casaroli Caprio Cé Righi-Lambertini Căn Civardi Corripio y Ahumada Asajiro Satowaki Etchegaray Ballestrero Ó Fiaich Carter Macharski Rubin Kung Pin-mei 1983 Khoraish Yago Sabattani Kuharić Casoria Lebrún Moratinos Bernardin Kitbunchu do Nascimento López Trujillo Danneels Williams Martini Lustiger Glemp Vaivods Meisner de Lubac 1985 Dadaglio Lourdusamy Arinze Fresno Innocenti Obando y Bravo Mayer Suquía Goicoechea Hamer Vidal Gulbinowicz Tzadua Tomko Lubachivsky Deskur Poupard Vachon Decourtray Castillo Lara Wetter Piovanelli Simonis Gagnon Stickler Law O'Connor Biffi Pavan 1988 Martínez Somalo Silvestrini Felici Grégoire Padiyara Freire Falcão Giordano dos Santos Canestri Javierre Ortas Pimenta Revollo Bravo Clancy Moreira Neves Hickey Szoka Paskai Tumi Groër Martin Hensbach Sladkevičius Margéot Wu 1991 Sodano Todea Laghi Cassidy Coffy Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi López Rodríguez Sanchez Noè Quarracino Angelini Mahony Posadas Ocampo Bevilacqua Saldarini Daly Ruini Korec Schwery Sterzinsky del Mestri Dezza 1994 Sfeir Vlk Poggi Shirayanagi Fagiolo Furno Oviedo Cavada Winning Suárez Rivera Ortega y Calamino Darmaatmadja Schotte Eyt Agustoni Wamala Keeler Vargas Alzamora Turcotte Carles Gordó Maida Puljić Razafindratandra Tụng Sandoval Íñiguez Echeverría Ruiz Świątek Tonini Koliqi Congar Grillmeier 1998 Medina Estévez Bovone Castrillón Hoyos Antonelli Stafford De Giorgi Fernandes de Araújo Rouco Varela Ambrozic Balland Tettamanzi Pengo Schönborn Rivera Carrera George Shan Kuo-hsi Kozłowiecki Cheli Colasuonno Monduzzi Jaworski Pujats 2001 Re Thuận Cacciavillan Sebastiani Grocholewski Saraiva Martins Sepe Mejía Daoud Pompedda Kasper Degenhardt González Zumárraga Dias Majella Agnelo Rubiano Sáenz McCarrick Connell Bačkis Errázuriz Ossa Terrazas Sandoval Napier Rodríguez Maradiaga Agré Billé Velasco Cipriani Thorne Álvarez Martínez Hummes Vithayathil Bergoglio Policarpo Poletto Murphy-O'Connor Egan Huzar Lehmann Ghattas Honoré Tucci Scheffczyk Dulles 2003 Tauran Martino Marchisano Herranz Casado Lozano Barragán Hamao Nicora Scola Okogie Panafieu Zubeir Wako Amigo Vallejo Rigali O'Brien Scheid Antonelli Bertone Turkson Toppo Pell Bozanić Mẫn Quezada Toruño Barbarin Erdő Ouellet Cottier Joos Špidlík Nagy Catholic Church portal

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Luigi Poggi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Poggi) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Poggi?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.