For the Time Being, Pope Francis Will Not Appoint the Vicar for Rome, the Diocese of Which He Is Bishop

(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 09.04.2024).- On Monday morning, April 8, Pope Francis held a meeting with the Council of Bishops of Rome, his diocese.

Three days earlier, the Pope removed Cardinal Angelo De Donatis from the post of Vicar of the diocese of Rome (who in practice exercised the pastoral leadership of the diocese of Rome on behalf of the Pontiff), and also  a Jesuit who was an Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese. Cardinal De Donatis was appointed the new Major Penitentiary of the Catholic Church, and a post was created (inexistent up to now) for the Jesuit as the Pope’s Adviser of Consecrated Life (of which the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life already takes care).

As a result of the meeting on the 8^th, it was learnt that, given the delicacy of the post of Cardinal Vicar, the Pope would take time to make a sound discernment on the figure of the person who would occupy the post, so, that for the time being, it remains vacant. Pope Francis encouraged the Auxiliary Bishops, in this transitional phase, to continue with the pastoral ministry and the administrative activities already initiated.

As provided in article 14 § 3 of the Apostolic Constitution “In Ecclesiarum  Communione,” on the ordination of the Vicariate of Rome, while the post of Cardinal Vicar is vacant, all his functions and competencies, including those of legal representation, will be exercised by the Vice-Regent, Monsignor Baldassare Reina.

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