# Pio Laghi

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Italian cardinal

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His Eminence Pio Laghi Patron of the Order of Malta Laghi in 1984. Church Roman Catholic Church Appointed 8 May 1993 Term ended 10 January 2009 Predecessor Sebastiano Baggio Successor Paolo Sardi Other post Cardinal-Priest of San Pietro in Vincoli (2002–09) Previous posts Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine (1969–73) Titular Archbishop of Mauriana (1969–91) Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Cyprus (1973–74) Apostolic Nuncio to Argentina (1974–80) Apostolic Delegate to the United States of America (1980–84) Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States (1980–90) Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States of America (1984–90) Pro-Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education (1990–91) President of the Interdicasterial Commission for Candidates to the Sacred Order (1990–99) Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in Via Tuscolana (1991–2002) Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education (1991–99) President of the Interdicasterial Commission for Equitable Distribution of Priests (1991–99) Cardinal Protodeacon (1999–2002) Orders Ordination 20 April 1946 by Giuseppe Battaglia Consecration 22 June 1969 by Amleto Giovanni Cicognani Created cardinal 28 June 1991 by Pope John Paul II Rank Cardinal-deacon (1991–2002) Cardinal-priest (2002–09) Personal details Born Pio Laghi (1922-05-21)21 May 1922 Castiglione di Forlì, Kingdom of Italy Died 10 January 2009(2009-01-10) (aged 86) San Carlo di Nancy Hospital, Rome, Italy Buried Faenza Cathedral Parents Antonio Laghi Laura Conti Alma mater Pontifical Major Roman Seminary Pontifical Lateran University Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy Motto In verbo Tuo Coat of arms

**Pio Laghi** (21 May 1922 – 10 January 2009) was an [Italian](/source/Italian_people) [cardinal of the Catholic Church](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)). His service was primarily in the diplomatic service of the [Holy See](/source/Holy_See) and the [Roman Curia](/source/Roman_Curia). He served as [Apostolic nuncio](/source/Apostolic_nuncio) to several countries and as the [Prefect](/source/Prefect) of the [Congregation for Catholic Education](/source/Congregation_for_Catholic_Education). He was elevated to the [cardinalate](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) in 1991. Cardinal Laghi was Pope [John Paul II](/source/John_Paul_II)'s secret emissary to the [White House](/source/White_House) and to several [presidents of the United States](/source/Presidents_of_the_United_States). He had a particularly close relationship with [George H. W. Bush](/source/George_H._W._Bush), and [George W. Bush](/source/George_W._Bush).

His work as an [apostolic nuncio](/source/Apostolic_nuncio) in [Argentina](/source/Argentina) (1974–1980), during the years of [dictatorship](/source/National_Reorganization_Process), has been and continues to be the subject of controversy.

## Biography

Laghi was born in [Castiglione di Forlì](/source/Castiglione_di_Forl%C3%AC), [Romagna](/source/Romagna), Italy. He was [ordained](/source/Holy_orders) to the priesthood on 20 April 1946 by [Bishop Giuseppe Battaglia](/source/Diocese_of_Faenza). He obtained doctorates in [theology](/source/Theology) (1947) and [canon law](/source/Canon_law_(Catholic_Church)) (1950) from the [Pontifical Lateran University](/source/Pontifical_Lateran_University) in Rome. He entered the [Roman Curia](/source/Roman_Curia), in the [Secretariat of State](/source/Secretariat_of_State), in 1952, and then served as Secretary of the nunciature in [Nicaragua](/source/Nicaragua) until 1955. Laghi was raised to the rank of [Domestic Prelate of His Holiness](/source/Monsignor) on 21 December 1965.

On 24 May 1969, he was appointed [Apostolic Delegate](/source/Nuncio) to [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem) and [Palestine](/source/Palestine), and [Titular Archbishop](/source/Titular_bishop) of Mauriana. Laghi received his [episcopal consecration](/source/Bishop_(Catholic_Church)) on the following 22 June from [Amleto Giovanni Cicognani](/source/Amleto_Giovanni_Cicognani), with Archbishop [Agostino Casaroli](/source/Agostino_Casaroli) and Bishop Giuseppe Battaglia (who had also ordained Laghi) serving as [co-consecrators](/source/Consecrator).

During five years in Jerusalem he served as [Pro-Nuncio](/source/Nuncio) to [Cyprus](/source/Cyprus) (28 May 1973) and [Apostolic Visitor](/source/Apostolic_visitor) for [Greece](/source/Greece). Laghi was a personal friend of [Golda Meir](/source/Golda_Meir).

Laghi was named [Nuncio](/source/Nuncio) to [Argentina](/source/Argentina) on 27 April 1974. His six years in Argentina coincided with the worst excesses of the [military dictatorship](/source/National_Reorganization_Process) there in what is now known as the "[dirty war](/source/Dirty_war)". Many in Argentina believe that the church hierarchy supported the generals in their misrule, and that Laghi – who played tennis regularly with one of the leaders of the junta, Admiral [Emilio Eduardo Massera](/source/Emilio_Eduardo_Massera) – turned a blind eye to the murder and disappearances of thousands.[1][2][3][4] "Perhaps I wasn't a hero", he later said of his time in Buenos Aires, "but I was no accomplice".[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The debate that his conduct generated was enough, however, to ruin any chance he ever had of becoming pope.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In his book *In the Closet of the Vatican: Power, Homosexuality and Hypocrisy*, Frédéric Martel alleges that Laghi was blackmailed by the Argentinean junta into not opposing them because of his use of so-called "[taxiboys](/source/Male_prostitution)".[5]

Pope John Paul II transferred him as Apostolic Delegate (10 December 1980) and later (26 March 1984) Pro-Nuncio to the [United States](/source/Nunciature_to_the_United_States). In that role he helped place [conservatives](/source/Conservatism) in key positions, such as [Bernard Francis Law](/source/Bernard_Francis_Law) in Boston and [John Joseph O'Connor](/source/John_O'Connor_(cardinal)) in New York City.

On 6 April 1990, John Paul appointed Laghi [Pro-Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education](/source/Congregation_for_Catholic_Education).[6] He made him [Cardinal-Deacon](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) of [Santa Maria Auxiliatrice in via Tuscolana](/source/Santa_Maria_Ausiliatrice%2C_Rome) in the [consistory](/source/Papal_consistory) of 28 June 1991, despite the accusations by Argentine writers of links between him and the dictatorship and the "[Dirty War](/source/Dirty_War)" in Argentina. On 1 July 1991, he was promoted to full congregation Prefect.

On 26 December 1994, the American magazine *[Time](/source/Time_Magazine)* published an article titled "Who Will Be First Among Us?" which prematurely speculated on who would be the next pope "as John Paul approaches the twilight of his papacy." Laghi was listed among eight cardinals who were considered leading [candidates](/source/Papabili); the article identified Laghi as head of the Congregation for Catholic Education with conservative credentials. In 1997 the Dirty War scandal was widely exposed, and, though Laghi denied the charges, it was considered to have ended his chance for the [papacy](/source/Pope).

Styles of Pio Laghi Reference style His Eminence Spoken style Your Eminence Informal style Cardinal See Mauriana

He headed the Congregation for Catholic Education until his resignation on 15 November 1999. From 1999 to 2001 he was the Cardinal Protodeacon (the longest serving Cardinal Deacon), before exercising his right as a Cardinal Deacon of ten years' standing to become a [Cardinal-Priest](/source/Cardinal-Priest) of [San Pietro in Vincoli](/source/San_Pietro_in_Vincoli). On his 80th birthday, 21 May 2002, he became ineligible to vote in a [papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave) but continued to undertake special missions for his friend John Paul II.

In 2000, Laghi was awarded the [F. Sadlier Dinger Award](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F._Sadlier_Dinger_Award&action=edit&redlink=1) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the ministry of religious education in America.

On 1 March 2003, Laghi, as special papal envoy to the United States, met with [President George W. Bush](/source/George_W._Bush) and conveyed the Pope's request that the United States reconsider the decision to go to [war against Iraq](/source/Iraq_War). Bush was photographed with Laghi and commented that he was "an old family friend". During the presidency of Bush's father, [George H. W. Bush](/source/George_H._W._Bush), Laghi, as Nuncio to the United States, was a frequent guest of Bush senior and his family.

Laghi died in Rome on 10 January 2009, from a blood disorder, aged 86.[7]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Argentine military dictator confirms Catholic Church hierarchy was well aware of the "disappeared""](https://en.mercopress.com/2012/07/24/argentine-military-dictator-confirms-catholic-church-hierarchy-was-well-aware-of-the-disappeared). *MercoPress*. 24 July 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Haller, Vera (22 May 1997). ["Vatican says its ex-envoy is innocent"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1997/05/23/vatican-says-its-ex-envoy-is-innocent/dfe0ea8f-ee44-4999-85d2-e96e0aa9c694/). *The Washington Post*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Former Argentinian dictator says he told Catholic Church of disappeared"](https://www.irishtimes.com/news/former-argentinian-dictator-says-he-told-catholic-church-of-disappeared-1.542154). *The Irish Times*. 24 July 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Pio Laghi, Papal Envoy, Dies at 86"](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/world/europe/13laghi.html). *The New York Times*. 13 January 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Alison, James (23 February 2019). ["Welcome to my world: Notes on the reception of Frédéric Martel's bombshell"](https://www.abc.net.au/religion/fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric-martel-and-the-structure-of-the-clerical-closet/10843678). *ABC Religion & Ethics*. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 25 February 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-82-1990-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. LXXXII. 1990. p. 536. Retrieved 8 September 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Vatican diplomat, Pio Laghi, dead at 86](https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican-diplomat-pio-laghi-dead-86)

- Burkle-Young, Francis A. (1999). [*Passing the keys : modern cardinals, conclaves, and the election of the next pope*](https://archive.org/details/passingkeysmoder00burk_0/page/315). Lanham, Md.: Madison Books. pp. [315–317, 325–326](https://archive.org/details/passingkeysmoder00burk_0/page/315). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-56833-130-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-56833-130-4).

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Pio Laghi](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Pio_Laghi)***.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Pio Laghi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Pio_Laghi).

- [Biography at *The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church* site](https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios-l.htm#Laghi)

- [Catholic-Hierarchy.Org](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/blaghi.html)

- Interview with Pio Laghi in [El halcón de la paz](http://www.clarin.com/suplementos/zona/1998/12/20/i-01001e.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20101207083059/http://edant.clarin.com/suplementos/zona/1998/12/20/i-01001e.htm) 7 December 2010 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), in newspaper [Clarin](/source/Clar%C3%ADn_(Argentine_newspaper)) of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 20 December 1998, about the [Beagle conflict](/source/Beagle_conflict) and the papal mediation.

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Jean Jadot Apostolic Delegate to the United States 1980–1984 Succeeded by none Preceded by none, new office Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States 1984–1990 Succeeded by Agostino Cacciavillan Preceded by William Baum Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education 1990–1999 Succeeded by Zenon Grocholewski Preceded by Eduardo Martínez Somalo Cardinal Protodeacon 9 January 1999 – 26 February 2002 Succeeded by Luigi Poggi

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