The Forum: Rome buzzing with rumors of change at the Vatican

Spirit Daily ^ | June 15, 2006

[NYer]

Jun. 14 (CWNews.com) - New rumors about changes in the Roman Curia are sweeping through the ranks of Vatican journalists, with the most intense speculation involving the post of Secretary of State.

While mentioning the names of prelates believed likely to be appointed to top Vatican posts, journalists are also speculating about the timing of the appointments. Some Vatican-watchers had predicted an announcement on June 10. When that date passed without any major news, speculation began to center on June 29: the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

Vatican Radio has commented on the widespread expectation of an "imminent reshuffling at the top." Pope Benedict's trip to Poland, one Vatican Radio commentator observed, appeared to mark "the end of a period of mourning [for the late Pope John Paul II (bio - news)] and the opening of a new era."

Vatican-watchers are now convinced that important changes are coming. The key questions being asked now are whether those changes will come before or after the Pope's trip to Spain in early July. If new appointments are not announced before that voyage, it is possible that they might wait until the end of the summer. Most journalists, however, believe that the changes are imminent.

After 14 months in Peter's throne-- during which time he has made only a few changes in the Roman Curia-- Pope Benedict is surrounded by prelates who are beyond the usual retirement age of 75. Most prominent among them is the Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano (bio - news), who has held that post since December 1990 and is now 78 years old. Informed Vatican officials agree that Cardinal Sodano will be replaced before the end of the summer, at the latest.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone is widely believed to be the Pope's choice to replace Cardinal Sodano. (On the basis of reports from contacts in Rome, CWN editor Phil Lawler predicted in May that Cardinal Bertone would be the new Secretary of State.) When questioned about those reports, the Archbishop of Genoa declined to comment. Cardinal Bertone has a strong rapport with the Holy Father, having worked as his deputy when the then-Cardinal Ratzinger was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Since he has never served in the Vatican diplomatic corps, his appointment could signal the Pope's desire for a new sort of leadership in the Vatican's #2 post.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re (bio - news), the current prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, was once thought most likely to be the next Secretary of State, in light of his extensive experience in the Roman Curia and the Vatican diplomatic corps. His name remains in circulation, and if Cardinal Bertone wins the appointment, Cardinal Re-- who has never held a pastoral assignment-- could slide into the vacant position as Archbishop of Genoa. Other names sometimes mentioned for the Secretary-of-State post are those of Cardinals Angelo Scola, the Patriarch of Venice, and Attilio Nicora, the president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

Four other top Curial officials are already past retirement age. Cardinal Edmund Szoka, the American president of the Vatican city-state government, will be 79 in September. Colombian Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos (bio - news), prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, will be 77 in July. And Spanish Cardinal Julian Herranz, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, turned 75 in March. Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, president of the prefecture for economic affairs at the Holy See, reached retirement age in April.

In August, Cardinal Paul Poupard will celebrate his 75th birthday. The French cardinal is president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, and in March the Holy Father also made him president "ad interim" of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue. In September, Syrian Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, will be 75.

Although they are short of retirement age, other cardinals are widely expected to be given new assignments. For example, the Polish Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski could be appointed as Archbishop of Warsaw, succeeding Cardinal Josef Glemp, who is 76. Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, and Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Heath Care, might be replaced-- possibly at the same time that their offices are merged with other Vatican units in a restructuring of the Roman Curia.

Changes could also be coming for the two deputies-- one handling foreign affairs, the other supervising the day-to-day work of the Vatican-- at the Secretariat of State. Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, who is now the Vatican's top foreign-affairs official, as Secretary for Relations with States, has been rumored as the likely replacement for Cardinal Szoka as head of the Vatican government. Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli, the apostolic nuncio in Paris, is mentioned as the most likely replacement for Archbishop Lajolo-- although the same prelate is also suggested as a possible successor to Archbishop Leonard Sandri, the other deputy Secretary of State.

Speculation about changes in the Vatican leadership involve not only the possible shuffling of top assignments, but also the possibility of a major restructuring of dicasteries. Prior to his election as Pontiff, Cardinal Ratzinger had spoken openly about the need for reform of the Roman Curia. He has indicated a desire to simplify the administration of the Vatican, which he currently sees as top-heavy. On March 23, when he called together the College of Cardinals for consultations, the topic of Curial reform was high on the agenda.

To date, the only significant changes that Pope Benedict has made in the structure of the Curia has been his decision, early in March, to merge the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Affairs under the same presidency as the Pontifical Council for Culture; and the Pontifical Council for Migrants under the same presidency as the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Both moves were announced as temporary measures, but could be signals of a more permanent consolidation soon to come.

Pope Benedict is believed to want a reduction in the number of pontifical councils. He could, perhaps, merge the Pontifical Council for the Family with the Pontifical Council for Health Care and/or the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Or he might create a new "super-dicastery" that combines several existing offices. There have been suggestions that the Vatican press office, L'Osservatore Romano, Vatican Radio, and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications could be folded into a single office handling Vatican public affairs. Such a move could come in conjunction with the departure of Archbishop John Foley, the American head of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, who has held that post for an extraordinary 21 years. Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the director of the Vatican press office; and Mario Agnes, the editor of L'Osservatore Romano, are also said to be ready for retirement.

[Antoninus]

Well, the article's not by John Allen so there might be some actual basis in fact here...

[Tax-chick]

"How to write ten paragraphs without saying anything that can be pinned down."

I'm thinking of printing this out as an example for the kids. The "Qualifier Bop," to paraphase P.J.

[NYer]

Well, the article's not by John Allen so there might be some actual basis in fact here...

Rocco Palmo began buzzing about this earlier in the week. Here's his take on the situation.

The Word from San Damaso

OK, so it's basically a fait accompli -- or so it seems -- that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone of Genoa, Cardinal Ratzinger's former CDF secretary, will succeed Cardinal Angelo Sodano as Secretary of State.

So much for Papa Ratzi's cred as a technocrat. Then again, desperate times call for desperate measures.

The only question, it seems, is when. Four cardinals briefed that the appointment was coming this past Saturday, the 10th. It didn't, which has led several people to simply give up and not think about it anymore.

Word is that the Cardinal-Dean will be taking up residence in the Ethiopian College in the Vatican Gardens. Said to be joining him is Cardinal Edmund Szoka, the head of the Governatorato -- the government of the Vatican City-State -- and a former archbishop
of Detroit. Szoka's retirement is also expected shortly.

Now, even more interesting than the appointment of Bertone -- a Salesian with dual degrees in theology and the canons who's tipped to head the Vatican diplomatic corps... without having spent a day of his life in the Vatican diplomatic corps -- is who might be headed to Genoa to take his place. But that can wait.

What this will do for Bertone's cameo appearances as a soccer commentator on Italian television is yet to be determined.

Oh, and he can't speak English.

Speaking of the Stato crowd -- and we're obligated by blood to love them here -- a bunch of the alums got together last weekend to remember Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, the San Damaso legend who ran the shop from 1979-90, on the eighth anniversary of his death.

In his Letter from Rome (the best piece of Vatican beat writing that most of you will, regrettably, never see online) Robert Mickens, Rome correspondent for The Tablet, wrote about a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Achille Silvestrini at the Church of the XII Apostles, where Casaroli is buried.

"'Pater et amicus' are the first two words on the large, shiny stone just left of the main altar that marks Cardinal Casaroli's burial spot," Mickens wrote. "The complete Latin inscription says: 'Friend and father to many needy youths.' The words, which the late cardinal personally chose for his tomb three years before he died, were to be a memorial to his work with many juvenile delinquents in Rome."

Mickens said that Casaroli "used to repeat a phrase that Pope John told him on his deathbed: 'Remember the Church has many enemies, but she is the enemy of no one.'"

Especially in these days, it's good food for thought.

[wagglebee]

IIRC there was supposed to be some sort of "major" announcement during Holy Week and nothing happened then either.

[Tax-chick]

Chortle.

[DBeers]

Well, the article's not by John Allen so there might be some actual basis in fact here...

Yes -probably more truth, less wishful thinking...

[StJacques]

I feel for this writer. He wants to put what is a really important discussion out in front of the public, since appointments such as these often have as much to say about a papacy as the Pope's own doctrinal pronouncements and, in keeping with centuries of tradition, no one is going to go on the record as to what might actually happen. I think he might have done the best that he could.

[NYer]

*IIRC*

Excuse the ignorance; what does this mean?

[wagglebee]

IIRC = if I remember correctly.

But why are you picking on me? I didn't notice you asking Tax-chick what "chortle" means!
:-)

[bornacatholic]

Dang!!!

The rumors I have been hearing about Black Elk being named Grand Inquisitor are questionable?

[Tax-chick]

*snicker*

[wagglebee]

Nope! Unlike "chortle" people know what Snickers are.

[Tax-chick]

Oh, that was mean. I have Weight Watchers tonight, and I am so hungry!

[wagglebee]

Then you should have used a diffent word! Here, I'll try again.

[dangus]

... someone doesn't get paid a big enough celery?

[Tax-chick]

I'm so hungry that looks good.

[Frank Sheed]

June 23rd...Mark it down.

[NYer]

okay ... I'll mark it down .... but what do you know about this?