Vatican City, Jun 9, 2007 / 11:11 am
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Argentinean Archbishop Leonardo Sandri as new Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, and appointed Archbishop Fernando Filoni, until now Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines, in his place.
Pope Benedict made both appointments public on Saturday morning, during a visit to the Congregation, where he gave special thanks to Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, the 77-year-old retiring Prefect.
"I am conscious that the Holy Father is entrusting me with the treasure of the liturgical prayer, the spiritual tradition, the monastic life, the life of so many saints, the teachings of the Fathers and of the Doctors of the Eastern Church," Archbishop Sandri said in a statement.
"I renew my absolute fidelity to the requests and directives of Peter's Successor and vicar of Christ," he also said.