Pope Benedict XVI is planning to create a department in the Roman Curia charged with overseeing the “re-evangelization” of traditionally Christian countries. The Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization will be announced in an apostolic letter being prepared by the pope and will be headed by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, an Italian. The step would represent the first major Curial innovation under Pope Benedict XVI, who has frequently spoken about the need to renew the roots of the faith in European and other Western societies. Archbishop Fisichella has headed the Pontifical Academy for Life since 2008.