Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila is among the new members of a Vatican department appointed by Pope Francis to help him choose future bishops.
The new appointments that were announced on Wednesday, July 13, also include two religious sisters and one consecrated virgin, the first time women have been appointed to the dicastery.
The new members of the department are:
- Cardinal Anders Arborelius, OCD, Bishop of Stockholm (Sweden)
- Cardinal Jose F. Advincula, Archbishop of Manila (Philippines)
- Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church
- Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops
- Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
- Cardinal-elect Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy
- Cardinal-elect Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille (France)
- Cardinal-elect Oscar Cantoni, Bishop of Como (Italy)
- Archbishop Dražen Kutleša, Archbishop of Split-Makarska (Croatia)
- Bishop Paul Desmond Tighe, Secretary of the former Pontifical Council for Culture
- Father Dom Donato Ogliari , OSB, Abbot of the Abbey of San Paolo fuori le Mura and Apostolic Administrator of the Territorial Abbey of Montecassino (Italy)
- Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State
- Sister Yvonne Reungoat, FMA, former Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
- Dr. Maria Lia Zervino, President of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations
According to Vatican News, the nomination of Ms. Zervino also marks the first appointment ever of a laywoman to the Vatican dicastery.
The members of the dicastery assist in choosing bishops for the dioceses. They analyze position papers, called ponenze, providing an opinion on candidates.
The ultimate decision in appointing bishops rests with the pope, and he is free to select anyone he chooses.
Usually, the pope’s representative in a country, the apostolic nuncio, passes on recommendations and documentation to the Vatican.
The Dicastery of Bishops then discusses the appointment in a further process and takes a vote. On being presented with the recommendations, the pope makes the final decision.
The Congregation of Bishops, a department of the Roman Curia, recently changed its name to the Dicastery for Bishops, in line with the new constitution that underpins the reform of the Vatican by Pope Francis.
The Dicastery for Bishops is the second Vatican office of which Cardinal Advincula is a member since becoming a cardinal two years ago.
In December 2020, the pope appointed him member of the Congregation for the Clergy.
– with a report from CNA
