(Vatican) Archbishop Pietro Parolin, the new Secretary of State unless there should be any additional, unexpected delays, Archbishop Pietro Parolin will take up his new position as Secretary of State in full tomorrow, Saturday.
On 31 August, the former Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela was appointed by Pope Francis at the head of the Roman Curia. He succeeds Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone after which on 15 October he is separated from office. On that day, Archbishop Parolin was originally supposed to take office. It has become necessary, however, because of a surgical procedure to delay his arrival in office. However, the Archbishop wanted the operation to be carried out before starting his new job in order to later avoid a prolonged absence in office.
The new Secretary of State is in the guesthouse just as Francis Pope in the Vatican, in the Domus Sanctae Marthae to set up his new quarters. At present this means that the residence of the Secretary of State next to the offices of the Secretary of State, are currently inhabited by Cardinal Bertone. Meanwhile, the new home office as President of the Supervisory Commission of Cardinals Vatican bank IOR is not finished yet. Secondly, Pope Francis seems to wish that his closest associates also stay closer to him. It is therefore possible that the current situation of the Secretary is also provisional.
Archbishop Parolin might, as Secretary of State, together with Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the Prefect of the Congregation are on the top of the list of new cardinals to be named. Pope Francis will convene the first extraordinary consistory of his pontificate for February 22nd. A comparison with the heads of state and government bodies of other states is difficult, but perhaps easier to understand. The Catholic Office of the Secretary of State can be compared with that of a chancellor or prime minister. The "ministers" that preside in the Roman Curia like the Prefect of a Congregation or as a President of a Pontifical Council are not the chancellors, but subject to directives from the Pope, who is also head of state. The Office of the Secretaries of Roman Dicastries are the equivalent of the deputy "Minister" and thus what is known in secular governments "Secretary of State".
Text: Giuseppe Nardi Image: Vatican Insider Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com Link to katholisches... AMGD
The Domus appears to be getting rather crowded with the papal entourage. Is there any room left for other guests, I wonder. And how much is this all costing with extra security, adjustments. etc.?
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