 Tonini preached the Lenten spiritual exercises to the Pope and members of the Roman Curia in February 1991 on the theme of "the Church of hope for today".Pope John Paul II created him Cardinal-Priest of "Santissimo Redentore a Valmelaina" in the consistory of 26 November 1994.As he was then already over 80, Tonini was never eligible to participate in a papal conclave.