" PAST " NEW PREFECT CONGREGATION FOR BISHOPS

CARDINAL MARC OUELLET

 The Holy See has announced that the Holy Father has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Re as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and has appointed Cardinal Marc Ouellet until now Archbishop of Ottawa as the new Prefect of the Congregation.

This brings to an end intense speculation that had Cardinal George Pell as the likely appointee, and accords with later suggestions that significant figures in the Curia had sought to block that appointment, putting abroad stories about Cardinal Pell's ill health - stories clearly given the lie by his appearance and activity.

The record of the Canadian Church has been a sorry one for many years past. It would be surprising if a major player in that field emerged with a contrary record. Only the Holy Father can know what other factors were at work in arriving at this decision.