Kammala jumla mai zuwa: Paparoma Paul VI ya sanya shi Cardinal-firist na San Luca a Via Prenestina a cikin consistory na 28 Afrilu 1969. Daga 1969 zuwa 1979, Poma ya yi aiki a matsayin shugaban taron Episcopal na Italiya; a wannan matsayin, ya yi gargadin cewa Katolikawa da ke goyon bayan kwaminisanci sun rabu da Cocin. Ya kuma kasance daya daga cikin cardinal masu zabe wadanda suka halarci conclaves na
Agusta da Oktoba 1978, wanda ya zaɓi Paparoma John Paul I da John Paul II bi da bi. A ranar 11 ga Fabrairun 1983, Cardinal ya yi murabus a matsayin babban bishop na Bologna, bayan kusan shekaru goma sha huɗu na hidima. Ya ci gaba da gudanar da babban bishop a matsayin mai kula da manzo har zuwa nadin Bishop Enrico Manfredini a ranar 18 ga Maris.