After being removed by Pope Francis as head of the papal household, evicted from his Vatican apartment and returned to his native diocese in Germany, Archbishop Georg Gänswein is reportedly set to be appointed as a nuncio, or papal ambassador, according to a report in leading Argentine daily newspaper La Nación.
On this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell and host Colleen Dulle analyze the reported forthcoming appointment of Benedict XVI’s longtime secretary and how it fits into the archbishop’s often publicly tumultuous relationship with Pope Francis.
“That Francis decided to appoint him as nuncio, to wherever, is a sign of confidence on the part of Francis, but also a sign of forgiveness,” Gerry says. “It’s obviously a sign that the pope feels reconciled with Gänswein.”
In the second half of the show, Colleen and Gerry break down Pope Francis’ brief but dense statement responding to the military escalation between Iran and Israel this past weekend.
In the headlines this week: The Vatican has officially confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Singapore this September. The Council of Cardinal Advisors also met this week for the third of four presentations on women and ministry organized by Sister Linda Pocher, F.M.A., and received an update on the synod from Cardinal Mario Grech.
Links from the show
- In surprise move, Pope Francis to rehabilitate Benedict XVI’s longtime aide by appointing him nuncio
- After Iran’s attack on Israel, Pope Francis warns against ‘a much bigger war’
- Pope Francis will head to Asia and Oceania in September for his longest foreign trip yet
- Interview: The Catholic sister meeting with Pope Francis on women and ministry
