Cardinal Roche Could Be Replaced as Prefect of Divine Worship
The position of "Patron" gained notoriety when Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Raymond Burke, 77, to it (2014–2017) in order to remove him as Prefect of the Apostolic Signature.
The current patron is Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda SJ, 83. He was Francis’ trusted canon lawyer and the proponent of a reform that was not well received within the Order of Malta. He is also an enemy of Opus Dei.
Spuntoni was the first journalist to report that Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, a pro-Abu-Dhabi-document prelate, would become the Substitute, second man, in the Vatican Secretary of State.
The Grand Master of the Order of Malta, fra John Dunlap, is pushing for Cardinal Ghirlanda to be removed. He wants Cardinal Roche, who is close to Dunlap.
News of Cardinal Roche’s probable dismissal was first reported by his enemy, the English journalist Damian Thompson.
Cardinal Roche is responsible for the document ‘Traditionis custodes’ (2021), which restricts the Mass in the Roman rite.
Spuntoni adds: “The scenario described by Thompson is realistic: Vatican sources tell us that the leadership of the Order of Malta has urged the retirement of the current patron, Gianfranco Ghirlanda.”
On February 13, Leo XIV has received Fra’ Dunlap in a private audience.
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