Cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler, S.D.B. Librarian and Archivist emeritus of the Holy Roman Church, was born on 23 August 1910 in Neunkirchen, archdiocese of Vienna (Austria).

Joined the Pious Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesians of Don Bosco) and made his first religious profession on 15 August 1928. Thereafter, he studied philosophy in Germany and then in Austria, Torino and Rome. On 27 March 1937 he was ordained priest.

After his studies, he was a professor at the Salesian University in Turin and then Rome. From 1953 to 1958 he was dean of the canon law faculty; 1958 to 1966 rector; and, from 1965 to 1968 president of the newly founded Institutum Altioris Latinitas.

On 25 March 1971 he was nominated Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library. As prefect, he promoted the construction of underground storage for the conservation and consultation of all the codes of the library.

He is the author of many works. Attended second Vatican Council as a peritus from 1963-1965. He is also member of many prestigious historical academies.

On 8 September 1983 he was elected titular archbishop of Bolsena and appointed pro-Librarian of the Holy Roman Church. On 7 July 1984 he was nominated Pro-Archivist of the Holy Roman Church.

Librarian and Archivist of the Holy Roman Church,  27 May 1985 to 1 July 1988.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of 25 May 1985, of the Title of S. Giorgio in Velabro (St. George in Velabro), deaconry elevated pro illa vice to presbyteral title.

Cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler, S.D.B., died on 12 December 2007.