Shortly after his ordination, he became vice-rector of the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Molfetta.[3] He was named rector a few months later, serving in that post until 1951. He did pastoral work in several Italian dioceses during the summer recesses, and became active in Azione Cattolica.[3] He was named a privy chamberlain of his holiness on 15 July 1943.[3]
Ursi died on 29 August 2003. At the time of his death he was one of the last two surviving cardinals elevated by Pope Paul VI in the 1967 consistory, along with Pope John Paul II, leaving Pope John Paul II the lone surviving member of that consistory.