Carlo Furno

Carlo Furno (born December 2, 1921) is an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church.

Furno was born in Bairo, Piedmont. He had a long career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, serving as Apostolic Nuncio (Papal Ambassador) to Peru, Lebanon, Brazil and Italy.

He was created Cardinal Deacon of "San Cuore di Cristo Re" on November 26, 1994. After ten years he opted to become Cardinal Priest of that church. Since 2005 he has been Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Onofrio.

Pope John Paul II appointed him Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 1995. This Order is, along with the Knights of Malta a virtual Sovereign State with membership of many international bodies and observer status at others (such as the United Nations). The Grand Masters of the two Orders are thus Papal Viceroys who provide Vatican diplomacy with procedural support for making motions, proposing Amendments and requiring votes in the sphere of international diplomacy. Cardinal Furno resigned this office in June 2007 and was succeeded by Mgr John Patrick Foley, an American archbishop who had been serving as the President of the Pontifical Council For Social Communications, an important department of the Roman Curia.