Pope John XXIII created him Cardinal-Priest of S. Agnese fuori le mura in the consistory of 15 December 1958, and Confalonieri was later appointed Archpriest of the Liberian Basilica on 16 November 1959. In 1961 he was made Secretary of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. From 1962 to 1965, Confalonieri attended the Second Vatican Council. He was also one of the cardinal electors in the 1963 papal conclave, which selected Pope Paul VI. He later ascended to Pro-Prefect (1966) and shortly afterwards Prefect (15 August 1967) of the Consistorial, which Pope Paul renamed the Congregation for Bishops on 1 August 1967. He was also President of the Pontifical Commission for the Pastoral of Emigration and Tourism from 30 April 1970 until 25 February 1973, when he resigned all of his posts.
Confalonieri was promoted to Cardinal Bishop of Palestrina on 15 March 1972. He became Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals on 7 January 1974, and finally its Dean on 12 December 1977. His appointment as Dean of the College of Cardinals entailed the title of the suburbicarian see of Ostia, which he took in addition to his first suburbicarian see. As Dean, he led the funeral Masses for Paul VI as well as Pope John Paul I. Confalonieri was not able to participate in the conclaves of August and October 1978 for he had exceeded the age limit of 80 to be an eligible elector. However, he was the first to suggest the name of Albino Luciani, who was elected John Paul I, during the period before the August conclave.[2] He complimented Luciani's speech and writing, also saying "the Church has chosen well" in selecting him for the papacy.[3]
Later life and death
He was considered a moderate in his views.[4] At the conclave of 1963, Confalonieri was seen as a possible candidate for a transitional pope, one who is not likely to effect great change during his tenure.[5] Yet his lack of pastoral experience was seen as a hindrance.[4]
He died in Rome, at age 93. His funeral Mass was held in Saint Peter's Basilica three days later, on 4 August, and was presided by Pope John Paul II. After his remains were moved to his native Seveso for another funeral Mass on 5 August (presided by Giovanni Colombo), Confalonieri was buried next to his parents in their family plot at the Seveso cemetery. At the time of his death he was the oldest member of the College of Cardinals.
Publication
Confalonieri published a moving tribute to Pope Pius XI with numerous valuable anecdotes.[6]
.svg)
.svg)
