 In 1927, he declared the Vatican had no interest in the presidential campaign of Al Smith, the Catholic governor of New York.Pope Pius XI created him Cardinal-Priest of "Santa Croce in Gerusalemme" in the consistory of 13 March 1933, in advance for his appointment as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith three days later, on 16 March.Cardinal Fumasoni Bondi served as papal legate to the National Eucharistic Congress in Teramo on 20 August 1935.