16 Facts About Pio Laghi

Pio Laghi was an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church.

Pio Laghi's service was primarily in the diplomatic service of the Holy See and the Roman Curia.

Pio Laghi served as Apostolic nuncio to several countries and as the Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education.

Cardinal Laghi was Pope John Paul II's secret emissary to the White House and to several presidents of the United States.

Pio Laghi was ordained to the priesthood on 20 April 1946 by Bishop Giuseppe Battaglia.

Pio Laghi obtained doctorates in theology and canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.

Pio Laghi entered the Roman Curia, in the Secretariat of State, in 1952, and then served as Secretary of the nunciature in Nicaragua until 1955.

Pio Laghi was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate of His Holiness on 21 December 1965.

Pio Laghi was named Nuncio to Argentina on 27 April 1974.

Pio Laghi made him Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria Auxiliatrice in via Tuscolana in the consistory of 28 June 1991, despite the accusations by Argentine writers of links between him and the dictatorship and the "Dirty War" in Argentina.

In 1997 the Dirty War scandal was widely exposed, and, though Pio Laghi denied the charges, it was considered to have ended his chance for the papacy.

Pio Laghi headed the Congregation for Catholic Education until his resignation on 15 November 1999.

In 2000, Laghi was awarded the F Sadlier Dinger Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the ministry of religious education in America.

Bush was photographed with Pio Laghi and commented that he was "an old family friend".

Bush, Pio Laghi, as Nuncio to the United States, was a frequent guest of Bush senior and his family.

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