Sergio Pignedoli

Sergio Pignedoli (4 June 1910 – 15 June 1980) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as deputy to pope Paul the sixth, and as President of the Secretariat for Non-Christians from 1973 to 1980, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1973. Cardinal Pignedoli was the leading contender to be elected Pope, following the death of Paul VI in 1978.

Born in Felina di Reggio Emilia, Sergio Pignedoli studied at the seminary in Reggio Emilia, the Catholic University of Milan (where he received a doctorate in ancient studies), the Pontifical Lateran University (obtaining a doctorate in theology), and the Pontifical Gregorian University (master's in ecclesiastical history) before being ordained a priest on 1 April 1933. He then served as vice-rector of the seminary in Reggio Emilia until 1934, at which time he became a chaplain at the Catholic University of Milan. During World War II, from 1940 to 1943, Pignedoli served as a navy chaplain, and continued his work as a chaplain in Azione Cattolica and the Italian Boy Scouts. Named Monsignor on 5 September 1949, he was also the Secretary of the Central Committee for the 1950 Holy Year, on which he commented, "This year's great discovery is that in a world apparently skeptical and indifferent, there's a vigorous current of faith".

...
Wikipedia