After studying economics and commerce in Switzerland, he was the first to undertake important reclamation works in Italy (Pineta di Destra and Giussago), wrestling land from the erosion caused by the sea.

In the period between the two wars Cini, along with his fraternal friend Giuseppe Volpi, was one of the main exponents of the so-called "Venetian group" of businesspeople, of which he was considered the "financial mind".

[1][2][3][4][5][6] In February 1943 Cini was appointed minister of communications by Benito Mussolini, but he resigned after six months due to profound differences with the dictator (on 19 June 1943, during the last cabinet meeting, he had confronted the Duce and told him that it was necessary to find a time and a way to withdraw from the war).

After the armistice of Cassibile he was arrested by the Germans in Rome and imprisoned in the Dachau concentration camp; his son Giorgio, having sold the jewels of his mother, bribed the SS commanders and secured his release, after which he escaped to Switzerland, where he was reunited with Volpi, who had also fled there.

Following the profound spiritual crisis due to the death of his son, he moved away from the Freemasonry of Ferrara, which he had frequented for a long time, and approached the Jesuit order.