Palazzo Apostolico blog

Fr Z puts us onto a most interesting blog, Palazzo Apostolico.it, the Vatican diary of Paolo Rodari.

Today's article speaks of a new year for the Holy Father, both in terms of theology and appointments (Un nuovo anno per il Papa: tra teologia e nomine). Rodari raises the question of whether Archbishop Ranjith has made too many enemies among those curial monsignori who are "still close to the dictates of Anninbale Bugnini" to be made Prefect of the CDW. To be honest, I don't mind which office he eventually gets - imagine if the great Archbishop were in charge of Bishops or the CDF!

When reading speculation from Italian journalists, you have to remember that they are light years ahead of most English-speaking colleagues in terms of their knowledge of the Church in general and the Vatican in particular. That doesn't mean that they are always right but they are often enough spot on - months ahead of events. Their speculation is still speculation; but it is of a very different quality from the English press.

Here are some of Rodari's suggestions: Archbishop Angelo Amato from the CDF to the Causes of Saints; Mgr Velasio de Paolis possibly to the Prefecture of Economic Affairs of the Holy See, or possibly to succeed his superior, Cardinal Agostino Vallini as head of the Apostolic Segnatura - if Vallini moves (within a few months) to take over from Cardinal Camillo Ruini at the Apostolic Vicariate of Rome.

In addition to a well-informed post on recent developments in the Papal liturgy, Rodari picked up on the Westminster launch of Archbishop Marini's book in the post L'ultima fatica di Piero Marini nella protestante Inghilterra ("The last ditch effort of Piero Marini in protestant England").Here is a quote (my translation):
As well as Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, a well-nursed squad of vatican dignitaries waited on Marini, among whom was the nuncio to Great Britain, the Spanish monsignore, Faustino Sainz Munoz. The occasion was worthy of note: the presentation with great pomp of his last ditch effort: "A challenging Reform" (una riforma che pone sfide), published by the Liturgical Press. As a swansong, Marini's book was published only in English, as though it were intentionally directed above all to the public of protestant England: a country where experimentation in the liturgical field (even in Catholic circles) has found fertile ground in which it can be sown, grow and then propagate.
Ouch! I told you those Italians knew their stuff.

(I have put Palazzo Apostolico.it on the blogroll via bloglines but I am not sure yet whether the feed is working properly.)

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