The Holy Father's Very Important and Impressive Vatican Appointments

The has been some critiicism that Pope Benedict has been slow in appointing people to crucial positions. I can understand the impatience. For all of Pope John Paul the II strengths , running and making sure the Roman Curia and other offices were in lock step with him was not one them. Also Lets face it, Pope Benedict is not a young man and not getting any younger. However I amazed of what he has done so far.

The Pope has differenct factions within the Church he must deal with. Those factions must be listened to and engaged. True in theory he is the Bishop of Rome and has much lattitude in doing what he wants but the reality is often much different.

The Rome based magazine Chiesa had this very interesting article called An Air of Appointments in the Curia – With a Gust of New Culture. These may not appear to be major appointments. But some will have quite a influence and are encouraging

It really goes into the people hat the Pope has put into office recently. As the article states at the begiining:"With a pope-professor like Benedict XVI, the right time has come in the Vatican for men of study in harmony with him. "

Theere article goes into these men;s attributes more. Also there is extensive commentary on the the new head of the Vatican Newspaper.

Here are the names
Gianfranco Ravasi, a luminary of the Sacred Scriptures, the presidency of the pontifical council for culture.

professor Giovanni Maria Vian, a philologist of ancient Christian literature, the direction of “L’Osservatore Romano.“

Salesian Raffaele Farina, another scholar of the earliest Christian authors, the post of archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church.

monsignor Cesare Pasini, vice-prefect of the Ambrosian Library and an aficionado of Greek and Latin manuscripts, the prefecture of the Apostolic Vatican Library.

American Benedictine Michael John Zielinski, who grew up among codices and incunabula, the presidency of the pontifical commissions for the cultural heritage of the Church and for sacred archaeology.

To the Anglo-German Oratorian Uwe Michael Lang, a disciple of the great humanist and theologian John Henry Newman and the author of an essay on liturgical architecture with a preface by Joseph Ratzinger, art and sacred music


Much more at the article.