Pope Francis appoints new cardinal of the Roman Curia

Vatican City, 21 May 2023

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Marcello Semeraro as the new prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, the Vatican announced on Saturday.

Cardinal-designate Semeraro, who is currently the Bishop of Albano, will succeed Cardinal George Pell, who is stepping down as prefect after five years in the role due to health reasons.

The appointment was made public in a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, which said that Pope Francis had accepted Cardinal Pell's resignation and thanked him for his service to the Church.

Bishop Marcello Semeraro's Biography

Bishop Marcello Semeraro was born on 22 December 1947 in Monteroni di Lecce, Italy. He was ordained a priest on 8 September 1971 and became a bishop in 1998.

Before his appointment as Bishop of Albano in 2004, he served as the Bishop of Oria from 1998 to 2004.

Bishop Semeraro is a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Cardinal George Pell's Resignation

Cardinal George Pell, 81, has been prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy since 2014.

He is a controversial figure who has been criticized for his handling of sexual abuse cases in Australia and for his opposition to Pope Francis's reforms.

In 2017, Cardinal Pell was convicted of sexual abuse charges in Australia, but the convictions were overturned on appeal in 2020.

The Secretariat for the Economy

The Secretariat for the Economy is a department of the Roman Curia that is responsible for the financial management of the Vatican.

The secretariat was established by Pope Francis in 2014 as part of his efforts to reform the Vatican's finances.

The prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy is a cardinal who is appointed by the pope for a five-year term.