VATICAN CITY, JUNE 26, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI made several major appointments today to the Roman Curia.
The Holy Father appointed Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, as vice president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.
Ecclesia Dei was established by Pope John Paul II in 1988 and is working on bringing the Society of Pius X to full communion with Rome.
Bishop Arthur Roche of Leeds, England, took Archbishop Di Noia’s place as secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. He will receive the dignity of archbishop.
Bishop Protase Rugambwa of Kigoma, Tanzania, was appointed adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and president of the Pontifical Missionary Works, and will also be made an archbishop.
Bishop Vincenzo Paglia of Terni-Narni-Amelia in Italy was appointed president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, also being raised to the dignity of archbishop. He succeeds Cardinal Ennio Antonelli whose resignation was accepted by the Holy Father upon reaching the age limit.
Benedict XVI also accepted the resignation of Bishop Fernando María Bargallo from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Merlo-Moreno, Argentina, after photos showing the prelate with a woman on a Mexican beach were released on the internet. Bishop Alcides Jorge Pedro Casaretto, emeritus of the diocese of San Isidro, Argentina, was appointed as apostolic administrator of Merlo-Moreno.
Apostolic penitentiary
The Holy Father also appointed Monsignor Krzysztof Jozef Nykiel, official of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary. As one of the three tribunals of the church, the Apostolic Penitentiary is responsible for issues involving the forgiveness of sins, absolution of excommunications, and the issuance of indulgences in the Catholic Church.
Bishop-designate Nykiel was born in Osjakow, Poland, in 1965 and ordained a priest in 1990. He studied in Rome and has also served as an official of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers. He succeeds Bishop Gianfranco Girotti.
