Pope Paul VI (; ), born
Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini (; 26 September 1897 – 6 August 1978), reigned from 21 June 1963 to his death in 1978. Succeeding
Pope John XXIII, he continued the
Second Vatican Council which he closed in 1965, implementing its numerous reforms, and fostered improved ecumenical relations with
Eastern Orthodox and
Protestants, which resulted in many historic meetings and agreements. Montini served in the
Vatican's Secretariat of State from 1922 to 1954. While in the Secretariat of State, Montini and
Domenico Tardini were considered as the closest and most influential colleagues of
Pope Pius XII, who in 1954 named him
Archbishop of Milan, the largest Italian diocese. Montini automatically became the Secretary of the Italian Bishops Conference. John XXIII elevated him to the
College of Cardinals in 1958, and after the death of John XXIII, Montini was considered one of his most likely successors.