Pope concludes Spiritual Exercises, announces first important changes to Curia

Catholic News Agency ^ | March 11, 2006

[NYer]

Vatican City, Mar. 11, 2006 (CNA) - By accepting one Cardinal’s resignation and bringing four major dicasteries under two authorities, Pope Benedict has wasted no time starting what could be a significant change within the Roman Curia. His announcements came immediately after finishing his Lenten Spiritual Exercises today.

The Pontiff began by accepting the resignation of Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, who reached the retirement age of 75. Until now, he has served as President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants.

In light of the resignation, Benedict also decided to bring Cardinal Hamao’s former dicastery under the authority of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, thus making Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino responsible for both.

The Holy Father also decided to move the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue--left without a President since the surprising appointment of Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald as new Apostolic Nuncio in Egypt on February 15^th--under the Pontifical Council for Culture, presided by French Cardinal Paul Poupard.

The Vatican Press office announced the latter change with an unusual comment: "The Pope, with the intention of favoring a more intense dialogue between men of culture and representatives of different religions, has united for now the presidency of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to the Pontifical Council for Culture, and therefore, has appointed His Eminence Cardinal Paul Poupard as President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue."

Many influential Vatican experts have highlighted the phrase "for now" as key in the Vatican statement, considering that Cardinal Martino is 73 and Cardinal Poupard will turn 76 in August.

During his time as a Cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI, on more than one occasion, suggested the need to reduce the number of Vatican dicasteries of the Roman Curia by unifying them or placing most of the councils under the authority of curia’s congregations.

For the moment,neither of the two dicasteries will be physically absorbed or moved from their current offices, but according to Italian commentators "it will probably be a matter of time."

[NYer]

Name:

H.E. Paul Card. POUPARD

Position:

President of the Pontifical Council for Culture

Age:

75 (Born Saturday, August 30, 1930)

From:

France

Cardinal since:

Saturday, May 25, 1985

Title:

Cardinal Priest of S Prassede

Contact Details:

Piazza San Calisto 16
00153 Rome
Italy

Tel: 06.69.88.73.93

Cardinal Paul Poupard, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture , was born on 30 August 1930 in Bouzillé, France. He was ordained a priest on 18 December 1954, and shortly thereafter he began to teach while he continued his studies and commitment to his pastoral ministry.

He received a doctorate in theology and history from the Sorbonne University, with a thesis regarding the relationship between reason and faith and between Church and State. He also obtained a diploma in religious sciences from the School of Higher Studies.

From 1958 to 1959 he worked at the national center of scientific research and from 1959 to 1971 he served as an official of the Secretary of State and Chaplain of the San Domenico Institute in Rome. He was also present at the solemn opening of the Vatican Council II and gave his services to John XXIII and Paul VI.

Upon returning to France, he served for 10 years as Rector of the Catholic Institute of Paris, and on 2 February 1979 he was elected titular Bishop of Usula and Auxiliary of the Archbishop of Paris. He received episcopal ordination on 6 April 1979 and in the same period was called to be member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and of the Secretariat for non-Christians. He served as Auxiliary until 27 June 1980, when John Paul II promoted him to Archbishop, calling him to serve as Pro-president of the Secretariat for Non-believers. Two years later, he became the President of the Executive Committee of the newly created Pontifical Council for Culture.

He served as President of the Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers until 4 April 1993 when this Council was incorporated into the Pontifical Council for Culture; he became President of this council on 19 April 1988.

Member of many cultural organizations in France. He also received the Cardinal Grente award from the French Academy, Knighthood from the Legion of Honor and many others. Has written many works and has collaborated on many studies.

President Delegate of the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops (1-23 October 1999)

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of 27 May 1985. Titular church, St. Praxedes (until 29 January 1996, Diaconate of S. Eugenio).

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