He then entered the service of the Roman Curia, being named Assessor and Sub-Promoter of the Faith of the Sacred Congregation of Rites on the following 3 February.
After being appointed Privy Chamberlain supernumerario three days later, on 6 February, Lugari was made full Promotor of the Faith on 4 June 1897.
Lugari was named Papal Auditor on 22 April 1901 and served as the Promotor of the Faith in the canonization process of Joan of Arc during that same year.
Lugari was made a protonotary apostolic supernumerarium on 2 February 1902, and later consultor of the Sacred Congregation of Rites on 18 April that same year.
His long years of work in the Curia were recognized by Pope Pius X, who created him Cardinal Deacon of S. Maria in Portico in the consistory of 27 November 1911.