Marco Tosatti, one of the most influential religious journalists in Italy, reports today in
La Stampa on possible changes in the Roman Curia, confirming rumors that the Pope (and Cardinal Bertone) would want to move Cardinal Levada to New York (prompting the battle for his succession) and reports (already confirmed by
I.Media and Andrea Tornielli in
Il Giornale) that the letter to China and the "motu proprio" on the liberalization of the Traditional Latin Mass could be released before the beginning of the Pope's early summer vacation, in Lorenzago di Cadore.
Main excerpts below:
Benedict XVI brings back to life the ministry for Dialogue between religions, trusting it to a cardinal of great relevance, Jean-Louis Tauran, previously Foreign Minister and "Librarian" of Holy Roman Church; and, meanwhile, in the Sacred Palaces, a silent battle for two positions of great prestige and importance has begun: the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where Ratzinger reigned as Prefect for more than twenty-three years, and the Pontifical Council for Culture, in the hands of Cardinal Paul Poupard, who in August will reach seventy-seven years old. [Father] Gianfranco Ravasi, Prefect of the Ambrosian Library, is the candidate in "pole position" [sic] to succeed him, strongly supported by the "progressive" wing.
...
There are those who propose other names: Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet; the Spanish Archbishop of Toledo, Cardinal Canizares; and even the Bishop of San Marino, Luigi Negri. Antonio Cañizares, greatly esteemed by Pope Ratzinger, is, however, a possible candidate for another position: that of Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. If the operation, willed by the Pope and by Cardinal Bertone, to send Levada to New York is successful, the succession problem is opened. Other than Angelo Amato, the current secretary and a Salesian like Bertone, Cañizares is also mentioned. Many however bet on the Patriarch of Venice, Angelo Scola, greatly esteemed by the Pope and, in a certain sense, expecting a compensation, after Bagnasco became the president of Cei [the Italian Episcopal Conference].
...
On Monday, July 9, Benedict XVI leaves for Lorenzago di Cadore; some changes may perhaps happen before vacations, particularly that of Archishop Claudio Maria Celli, Secretary of the Apsa [Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See], very close to Cardinal Silvestrini, to the position of Archbishop Foley, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, [himself] destined to substitute Cardinal Carlo Furno as Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. And the publication of two important documents is expected: a letter to the Chinese Catholics, which could be a milestone in relations with Beijing, and the "Motu proprio" for the liberalization of the Mass of Saint Pius V, both defined as "imminent" by authoritative voices.
