Vatican City, Mar 10, 2006 / 22:00 pm
By accepting one Cardinal’s resignation and bringing four major dicasteries under two authorities, Pope Benedict has wasted no time starting what could be a significant change within the Roman Curia. His announcements came immediately after finishing his Lenten Spiritual Exercises today.
The Pontiff began by accepting the resignation of Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, who reached the retirement age of 75. Until now, he has served as President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants.
In light of the resignation, Benedict also decided to bring Cardinal Hamao’s former dicastery under the authority of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, thus making Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino responsible for both.
The Holy Father also decided to move the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue--left without a President since the surprising appointment of Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald as new Apostolic Nuncio in Egypt on February 15th--under the Pontifical Council for Culture, presided by French Cardinal Paul Poupard.