Cardinal Antonio Maria Vegliò, President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, was born on 3 February 1938 in Macerata Feltria, Italy.

He was ordained a priest on 18 March 1962 and holds a licence in philosophy and theology and a doctorate in canon law.

In 1966, he began the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. He served at the Apostolic Nunciature in Peru, the Philippines, Senegal, Great Britain and in the Second Section of the Secretariat of State.

He was appointed titular Archbishop of Eclano on 27 July 1985, and Apostolic Nuncio in Papua New Guinea and Pro-Nuncio in the Solomon Islands. He was ordained bishop on the following 6 October.

He served as Apostolic Nuncio in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and Malias well as Apostolic Delegate in Mauritania. In October 1997, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio in Lebanon and Kuwait.

On 11 April 2001, he was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches.

On 28 February 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

He participated in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of 18 February 2012, of the Title of San Cesareo in Palatio (St. Cesario in Palatio), Deaconry elevated pro hac vice to presbyteral title (4 March 2022).