Left to right: Dr. Ralph Martin, Dr. Eduardo Echeverria, and Dr. Edward Peters. (Images: EWTN and SHMS)

Cardinal Makrickas takes the helm of the Roman basilica of St. Mary Major: the oldest Marian church in the West

The change marks more than an administrative adjustment. It symbolizes a broader generational and geographical shift within the leadership of the Roman Curia, as Cardinal Makrickas—born behind the Iron Curtain in Soviet-occupied Lithuania—becomes the first Lithuanian to assume stewardship of the Liberian basilica in modern times.

Crisis Deepens in Lima Archdiocese Amid Abuse Allegations and Accusations of Mismanagement Under Cardinal Castillo

A key flashpoint involves a contemplative nun who claims she was sexually manipulated by Fr. Nilton Zárate, a priest allegedly close to Cardinal Castillo. According to a 2024 sworn statement obtained by U.S.-based outlet The Pillar, the nun describes years of inappropriate spiritual direction that veered into manipulation and coercion