Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Enjoyed a meteroic career first as personal secretary to the future Pope St. Paul VI. Went on to serve in many diplomatic posts including Permanent Observer to the United Nations. In 1967 he entered the Roman Curia as Deputy to Cardinal Amleto Cicognani. Some referred to him as "the Berlin Wall and the "Vatican Kissinger" in the Vatican for his aggressive and almost authoritarian tenure as Substitute of the Secretariat of State, including having the more senior Curialists channel business through him. At some point he became "too big for his breeches" and was promoted (transferred) to Florence as cardinal-archbishop.
 
TLS - Typewritten Letter Signed, one page, 23 April 1974, to Professor Granfranco Piantoni of Milan.