Abstract

With the pontificate of Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), for the first time an attention and partial acceptance of some of the orientations that had emerged in the ecclesial society in previous decades concerning a greater internationality of the Catholic ecclesiastic summit were granted. The internationalization of the College of Cardinals constitutes a first example of the reception by the Church authority of those instances of reform and renewal which found full legitimacy and implementation in the concreteness of the ecclesial life during and after the conciliar season.