Piedmontese bishop to be appointed head of Holy See’s economic affairs

The Bishop of Alessandria, Giuseppe Versaldi, who is close to the Vatican's Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone, is the new president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See

Cardinal Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone’s influence in the Roman Curia and in the bodies that manage and control Vatican finances is set in stone: the Bishop of Alessandria, Giuseppe Versaldi is pronounced president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, a position currently held by Cardinal Velasio De Paolis.

Versaldi, 68, has been Bishop of Alessandria, in the piedmont region of Italy for four years, after his position as general vicar of Vercelli, north of the Country. He has enjoyed strong links with Cardinal Bertone ever since the latter was Archbishop of Vercelli (1991-1995). They had worked together to resolve the financial problems that arose in the Vercelli Curia.

When, in early 2010, Italian daily newspaper “Il Foglio”, published a portrait of the Secretary of State, criticising his government in the Curia, Versaldi, Alessandria’s Bishop, wrote a distressed letter in defence of Bertone, which was published in the Catholic daily newspaper “Avvenire”.   

Without hiding the “awe” he felt towards him, he wrote that Bertone’s only aim was to “serve the Pope” and that Benedict XVI had wanted him by his side to “erase the “filth” that existed within the Church, which the Cardinal had recognised and condemned.”

It is no wonder that less than a year ago, when he had to appoint a new Archbishop for Turin, Bertone had thought immediately of Versaldi, in view also, of a future change of heads in the Italian Episcopal Conference. 

But Pope Ratzinger decided otherwise. 

Now, however, he has agreed to call Versaldi to Rome, to appoint him to a Cardinal position. 

Unless there are any unexpected surprises, Versaldi’s name should be added to the list of new Cardinals in the next consistory.

The nomination of Versaldi, so shortly after the nomination of Domenico Calcagno, another bishop who is very close to Bertone and  who was called to Rome, first as number two man and now as president of the Administration of the Holy See’s heritage, shows the extent to which the Pope trusts the Secretary of State to select a candidate for a position in the Curia.

Versaldi’s appointment to the Prefecture of economic affairs, a supervising body, concludes the change round of the heads of institutions within the Curia, in charge of managing the finances and the legacy of the Holy See and the Vatican State 

(Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) and Governatorate).

These high level positions are held or are going to be held by prelates who are very close to Cardinal Bertone. 

Given the high number of Italians holding leading positions within the Roman Curia, the appointment of the Bishop of Alessandria to the Prefecture of economic affairs, could prevent the nomination of yet another Italian for the position of Major Penitentiary. 

The person in pole position for this post, who is currently second in line, is Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, who has almost reached seventy five.

 

As Vatican Insider recently wrote, the appointment of the new Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is approaching. 

The person appointed will replace U.S. Cardinal William Levada, who is due to end his five year mandate, which coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of his priestly ordination. 

He will then retire in the USA. 

The main candidate, who is expected to succeed him, is the German bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, who has been Bishop of Regensburg since 2002.

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