 He became Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals on 7 January 1974, and finally its Dean on 12 December 1977.His appointment as Dean of the College of Cardinals entailed the title of the suburbicarian see of Ostia, which he took in addition to his first suburbicarian see.As Dean, he led the funeral Masses for Paul VI as well as Pope John Paul I. Confalonieri was not able to participate in the conclaves of August and October 1978 for he had exceeded the age limit of 80 to be an eligible elector.