Pio Laghi

His Eminence

Pio Laghi
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(s)	Cardinal-Priest of San Pietro in Vincoli (2002–09)
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; 21 May 1922; Castiglione di Forlì, Kingdom of Italy
Died	10 January 2009 (aged 86); San Carlo di Nancy Hospital, Rome, Italy
Buried	Faenza Cathedral
Parents	Antonio Laghi; Laura Conti
Previous post(s)	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);
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 cardinal of the Catholic Church. His service was primarily in the diplomatic service of the Holy See and the Roman Curia. He served as Apostolic nuncio to several countries and as the Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 1991. Cardinal Laghi was Pope John Paul II's secret emissary to the White House and to several presidents of the United States. He had a particularly close relationship with George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush.

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