New appointments expected for Roman Curia

A noted Vatican-watcher is predicting two new appointments to the Roman Curia, to be announced soon.

Andrea Tornielli of Il Giornale, who has accurately predicted a number of Vatican developments during this pontificate, writes that Pope Benedict will soon name new secretaries for two Vatican offices. 

The Italian Msgr. Macello Bartolucci will become secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, he says, and the Spaniard Msgr. Celso Morga Uruzubieta will become secretary of the Congregation for Clergy. 

Both are already working on the staff of their respective dicasteries; both will be ordained archbishops as they assume their new roles.

Tornielli writes that the appointments will be announced imminently. 

The current secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Archbishop Michele Di Ruberto, is already 76 years old: more than a year beyond the normative retirement age. 

The post of secretary at the Congregation for Clergy has been vacation since October, when the previous occupant, then-Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, was appointed prefect of the Congregation; he was subsequently elevated to the College of Cardinals in November.

Meanwhile, Tornielli notes, the Vatican is waiting for an announcement on an even more critical post. Cardinal Franc Rode, the prefect of the Congregation for Religious, is also 76. 

An announcement of his retirement, and the appointment of his replacement, is expected soon.

SIC: CC/INT'L