 He was raised to the rank of Privy Chamberlain supernumerary on 6 November 1959.On 28 April 1969, Tonini was appointed Bishop of Macerata-Tolentino by Pope Paul VI.He received his episcopal consecration on the following 2 June from Archbishop Umberto Malchiodi, with Archbishop Agostino Casaroli and Bishop Carlo Colombo serving as co-consecrators.