Santa Maria in Domnica
Appointed cardinal by Pope Pius IX during the consistory of 22 June 1866, Consolini received the red hat and was named Cardinal Deacon, with his titular church being the Church of Santa Maria in Domnica. After this He was a Council Father at the First Vatican Council. Cardinal Prefect of the Propaganda Fide, in which he served for the next ten years. In 1874 he was also appointed a Prefect of the , a new society of priests of the Diocese of Rome who wished to serve overseas in Asia and Africa. He participated in the conclave of 1878 which elected Pope Leo XIII.