His eminence, Cardinal Lorenzo Lauri, Papal Legate.

Lorenzo Lauri was a cleric of great national and international distinction. The Pope’s selection of such a senior figure clearly showed the high hopes that he had for a successful event. Lauri was born in Rome in 1864 and received his education there. He attended the Pontifical Roman Seminary and was ordained as a priest in 1887. He subsequently became a faculty member of the Seminary and also at the Pontifical Urbanium Anthenaeum “De Propaganda Fide” [Propagation of the Faith] from 1887 until 1910. He served for 15 years as Official of the Vicariate of Rome until 1910. He was made Canon of S. Lorenzo, his first promotion of many, at the turn of the new century in 1901. After acting as Substitute of Regent of Sacred Apostolic Seminary and well as fulfilling his duties as a Domestic Prelate in 1910, Lauri moved to South America. He was elected titular Archbishop of Efeso and appointed internuncio in Peru in 1917. His consecration as a bishop took place in Rome at the same time and he returned to his work in Peru as the Pope’s chief advisor there until full diplomatic relations between the Papacy and Peru were established in 1921. Lauri was created a cardinal priest in 1926 and received his red hat and title of St. Pancrazio in the summer of 1927. After his service as Papal Legate in Dublin in 1932, he was allowed participate in the conclave of 1939 and shortly afterwards was named Camerlengo [cardinal who manages the pope’s secular affairs] of the Holy Roman Church. He died in 1941 after a very successful career and was buried at the Campo Verano Cemetry in his native Rome. It is difficult to imagine him ever receiving a welcome comparable to that which greeted him in Dublin amidst glorious sunshine in June, 1932. He was also honoured with the Freedom of Dublin City during his visit.