Egidio Vagnozzi was born in Rome to Francesco and Pasqua (née Jachetti) Vagnozzi, and studied at the
Minor Seminary,
Pontifical Roman Seminary, and
Pontifical Lateran University (from where he obtained doctorates in philosophy,
theology, and
canon law).
Ordained a
priest by Cardinal
Rafael Merry del Val on 22 December 1928, Vagnozzi, at age 22, required a
dispensation to be ordained, not having yet reached the
canonical age. He then finished his studies in 1930. In 1930, he also became a staff member of the
Secretariat of State in the
Roman Curia, and was raised to the rank of
Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness on 1 May 1932. Before becoming
counselor of the
Portuguese nunciature in 1942, he was a staff member of the
apostolic delegation to the United States in 1932. Vagnozzi was counselor of the French nunciature from 1945 to 1947, and became a
Domestic Prelate of His Holiness on 23 December 1945. He was an official of the delegation for the establishment of
diplomatic relations with
India for a year until becoming
chargé d'affaires of the
Holy See's mission to the
Indian government in New Delhi from June to August 1948. On 9 March 1949, Vagnozzi was appointed Apostolic Delegate to the
Philippines and
Titular Archbishop of
Myra. He received his
episcopal consecration on the following 22 May from Cardinal
Adeodato Giovanni Piazza,
OCD, with Archbishops
Francesco Borgongini Duca and
Roberto Ronca serving as
co-consecrators. Following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Philippines government, he was appointed the first
Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines on 9 April 1951. Vagnozzi was named
Apostolic Delegate to the United States on 16 December 1958. He attended the
Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965.
Pope Paul VI created him
cardinal deacon of
S. Giuseppe in via Trionfale in the
consistory of 26 June 1967, and President of the
Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See on 13 January 1968. After ten years' as a cardinal deacon, Vagnozzi exercised his right to become a
cardinal priest, and his deaconry was elevated
pro hac vice on 5 March 1973. He was one of the
cardinal electors who participated in the
conclaves of
August and
October 1978, which selected
Popes John Paul I and
John Paul II respectively. He was also
Chamberlain of the College of Cardinals from 30 June 1979 until his death. Vagnozzi died in Rome, at age 74. After a
funeral Mass presided by John Paul II in the
Lateran Basilica, he was buried in the
Campo Verano. His remains were later transferred to his cardinalitial church in March 1983. ==Positions==