A period of study in Rome intended to be temporary turned permanent when he was offered his first Curial appointment by Giuseppe Cardinal Pizzardo. Rising through the Vatican dicastery then headed by Cardinal Pizzardo (then the Sacred Congregation for Seminaries and Universities, now the Congregation for Catholic Education), he eventually served as its Undersecretary from 1969 to 1988. He was also advanced to monsignor, becoming a Papal Chamberlain in 1961 and a Prelate of Honour in 1971. His past positions include: