Rorate Caeli

Abp. Fisichella to head a new Pontifical Council?

More than a year after the Recife scandal, which led just a few months ago to a "mutiny" in the Pontifical Academy for Life (see this for a comprehensive list of articles covering the matter), Andrea Tornielli has announced that, in the coming weeks, Pope Benedict XVI will announce the establishment a new Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, dedicated to the evangelization of the West -- with Archbishop Rino Fisichella as its head. The new position will make him a candidate for the red hat as well.

According to Tornielli, Archbishop Fisichella will be succeeded as rector of the Pontifical Lateran University by Fr. Enrico Dal Covolo SDB, who is close to Cardinal Bertone and had preached this year's Lenten spiritual exercises for the Pope and the Roman Curia.

Tornielli also mentions reports that Abp. Gianfranco Ravasi, current head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, is being considered as a possible successor to Cardinal Tettamanzi in Milan.