New USA Nuncio Replaced by Someone Close to Cardinal Burke

Edit: We were all over this in July. Move over libs, there should be some better episcopal appointments and faster responses to Liturgical abuses. Oh yeah.

Editor: his slot in the Governorate of the Vatican will be taken up by someone who's close to Cardinal Burke, Msgr Sciacca, a judge in the Roman Rota. Understanding that this is an earlier release and that some of the other blogs were reticent about Nuncio Sambi's replacement, Katholisches sounded certain about it.

[Washington from July 13] Curial Bishop Carlo Maria Viganò the Secretary of the Governorate Council of Vatican City, will be the new Apostolic Nuncio of the United States of America. The present ambassador to Washington, Archbishop Pietro Sambi will be recalled back to Rome and undertake a new leading role in the Roman Curia.

The Curial Bishop has been leading a restrictive organizational reform for various areas of the Curia over the past two years. That has not made him many friends. In the long run it involved friction with the Secretary of State, so the current personnel changes are intended to bring peace again for all sides. The role of the Papal Ambassador in Washington is as much a step up in rank and is also an important as well as sensitive position.

The successor as number two of the Governatorial Advisor will be canon lawyer, Msgr Giuseppe Sciacca, who is at present judge of the Roman Rota. Of him it is said that he also has earned the trust and praise of both the Holy Father and the Cardinal Secretary [+Burke].

Archbishop Viganò would be the third Apostolic Nuncio in the United States of America and only the fifth representative from the Holy See. It was first under President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II that in 1984 full diplomatic relations were established between the Holy See and the United States. In the same year the USA sent William Wilson as its first ambassador to the Holy See in Rome. Since 2009, Miguel Diaz who was appointed by President Obama has occupied this post.

In the USA there is a longstanding opposition against diplomatic relations. At first in 1893 the first contact at this level was established. The representatives of the Holy See had however only the rank of apostolic delegates.

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