Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, served in the Holy See’s diplomatic corps on five continents. Ordained priest in 1954 and elevated to Archbishop in 1972, he was Apostolic Nuncio in Papua-New Guinea before serving in Nicaragua under the Sandinista regime and in Honduras under the anti-Sandinista government.
In Jerusalem he was the architect of the Fundamental Agreement normalising relations between the Holy See and Israel in 1993.
At the end of his last mission to Italy and San Marino, Pope John Paul entrusted him with the task of reorganising the extra-territorial complex of St Paul Outside the Walls.
Nominated Archpriest of the Papal Basilica on June 1st 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI and created Cardinal on March 24th 2006, he is carrying out important archaeological and restoration work as well as improving the organisation of the Basilica for the benefit of pilgrims from all over the world.
