 In the consistory of 12 January 1953, Lercaro was created Cardinal-Priest of "Santa Maria in Traspontina" by Pius XII.During his early years as a cardinal, Lercaro established his first contacts with Angelo Roncalli and became well known for the way in which he turned his episcopal palace into an orphanage.Although he had been seen by Vatican-watchers ever since 1953 as a possible successor to Pius XII and was listed by "l'Osservatore Romano" as a "papabile", his reputation as the most idiosyncratic of all the Cardinals and the desire for a transitional pontiff saw him passed over in favour of Roncalli in 1958.