2012-03-30 L’Osservatore Romano

When Pope Paul VI was elected Pope, the head of the pontifical representation in Madrid was the Nuncio Antonio Riberi, already there a year. His adviser was Mons. Giovanni Benelli, the future Substitute Secretary of State for a decade, 1967-1977. Riberi was made Cardinal on 26 June 1967 and on 8 July that year his successor, Luigi Dadaglio was nominated as well, who remained in the Spanish capital until 1980, when he was nominated Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Riberi died unexpectedly in Rome on 16 December 1967, six months after having been created Cardinal, and Dadglio too died in Rome, from a heart attack, on 6 August 1990.

Through these two Nuncios Paul VI prepared the renewal of the episcopate, by gradually introducing into it younger prelates who played a leading role in Spain's socio-political life during the first post-conciliar years.