The New "Chief Ghostwriter" of the Pope

(Vatican) The new coordinator of the Pope's staff, who are involved in the drafting of speeches, sermons, and written documents, is called Paolo Luca Braida. He takes on the task of Giampiero Gloder, whom Pope Francis has named as Bishop and new president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. He received his episcopal consecration from the Pope personally.

Many heads and hands interact with each theme and subject in the development of the papal texts that are part of the Ordinary Magisterium. The responsiblity for their coordination in the two last years of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. rested upon Monsignor Giampiero Gloder, who comes from a small Bavarian town founded by settlers in the Middle Ages, a German language island in northern Italy. Although there hasn't been spoken German for 70 years, but at least the two "Bavarians" have hit it off nonetheless.

Personnel Modification Brought new Coordinator of the "Speech Writers"

With the staff restructuring of the Roman Curia, Pope Francis wanted an employee of his choice for this task. He found it in Bishop Paolo Luca Braida, born in 1959, ordained in 1987, incardinated in the Italian diocese of Lodi. Braida has been working at the Roman Curia since 1991. Since 2008 he has been a member of the Apostolic Chamber and since 2010 head of the Italian Section of the Secretariat of State. For some time he has also been involved in drafting papal speeches, so his appointment came as no surprise. Conveniently, he also lives in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the guest house of the Vatican, which is being gradually transformed into the new Apostolic Palace. Not only by internal conversion work, but also by the gradual relocation of the Pope's closest collaborators there. The number of permanent residents is increasing.

Archbishop Paolo Sardi, the coordinator of the papal speeches of Pope John Paul II, who took that of over from Paul VI., is today a Cardinal. When traveling abroad, and on pastoral visits the local bishops have the option to deposit in advance of certain concerns that are incorporated where possible in the speeches. Different clarifications fall to the coordinator. Moreover, each Pope places a different accent.

Each Pope Has Different Accents, Benedict XVI. Wrote Important Speeches Himself by Hand

And every pope has written personally important speeches. Others are designed to the specifications of the Pope by others and brought to the pope in the final version, if time permits. Benedict XVI. was known to write many things for himself, and this by hand. The official speeches that are part of the Ordinary Magisterium are then reviewed by the Congregation. This task is the responsibility of Archbishop Francis Ladaria Ferrer, a Spanish Jesuit and Secretary of the Roman Congregation under Pope Francis.

Pope Francis Holds Spontaneous Speeches Like the Cemetery in Rome

With Pope Francis he replaces all prearranged drafts when he lectures, partially deletes and makes additions, or replaces completely by a spontaneous sermon.

In the Sermon on All Saints Roman cemetery at Campo Verano, master of ceremonies Guido Marini, had a prepared homily written down, but the Pope did not really look much at them, but spoke mostly free. The Press Office of the Vatican had put journalists on notice that the version issued as usual has no validity. Under the spontaneity the theological precision suffers, as well as the example of the Cemetery Sermon makes clear. In Rome it it is met with shrugging: "The Pope is just like that."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi

Image: Diocese of Lodi


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