Roman Catholic Cardinal. A native of Turin, Giovanni Cheli was raised on his grandfather's farm in Asti. Entering seminary there, he was ordained priest by the local bishop on June 21, 1942. Prefect of discipline and professor of French, history and mathematics at the seminary of Asti, he pursued further studies in Rome. Chaplain of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona, in the populous district of Prenestino, Cheli entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See, being assigned as attaché of the apostolic nunciature in Guatemala. Secretary of the nunciature in Spain, he collaborated closely with Archbishop Agostino Casaroli, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Public Affairs of the Church in conducting negotiations between the Holy See and a number of eastern European countries. The first nuncio to be named permanent observer of the Holy See at the United Nations Organization, he was appointed Archbishop of the Titular See of Santa Giusta on September 8, 1978, during the short papacy of John Paul II. He received his consecration from the Cardinal Secretary of State, Jean Villot. Appointed pro-president of the Pontifical Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrations and Tourism, which name later changed to Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants of which he became its first president, Cheli was created cardinal by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of February 21, 1998, receiving the deaconry of Saints Cosma and Damian, which was later elevated to title on March 1, 2008. Decorated among others with the Order of Isabel la Católica of Spain and the Verdienstkreuz of the Federal Republic of Germany, he was appointed 'commendatore' of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic received doctorates honoris causa from several universities in the United States of America, including St. John's, Fordham, and Seaton Hall.