 Behind the scenes he participated in a campaign in opposition to Pope Benedict XVI's appointments of Tarcisio Bertone as Secretary of State, believing Bertone lacked the requisite diplomatic experience.He was decorated with the Order of Isabel the Catholic and named commendatore of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, and of the Verdienstkreuz of the Federal Republic of Germany.Cheli died on 8 February 2013 of natural causes, at the age of 94.