Like a Row of Dominoes: An Analysis of the Latest Vatican Appointments| National Catholic Register

As with a row of dominoes — where the fall of the first triggers a chain of consequences — the latest appointment at the Vatican kicks off several changes for the Church, both in Rome and around the world.

Father Emilio Nappa’s nomination to assistant secretary of the dicastery for the Evangelization of Peoples is the first of a series of new appointments at the Vatican. They involve the most important dicasteries of the Roman Curia — and will also have a global impact.

Father Nappa is called to take the place of Archbishop Giampietro Dal Toso, both as assistant secretary of the dicastery and president of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Archbishop Dal Toso left his office after five years and after just over 25 years in the service of the Roman Curia, which he had entered in 1996 as an official of the then Pontifical Council Cor Unum.

Following the principles of Praedicate evangelium, Pope Francis did not renew his appointment after the five-year mandate.

Instead, the Pope chose a priest already in the service of the Roman Curia, where he served first as an official of the General Affairs section of the Secretariat of State. In September, Father Nappa was briefly made an official of the Secretariat for the Economy.

Father Nappa is, in other words, an internal choice: a young priest with good diplomatic-administrative experience and a stint in the field of economics who is now expected to help manage the Pontifical Mission Societies.

For Archbishop Dal Toso, there is talk of a future as a nuncio, a “papal ambassador” — even though he is not a trained diplomat.

Archbishop Dal Toso’s missionary experience could be helpful, and the Vatican needs nuncios: There are several vacant nunciatures, and in several places the nuncio is advanced in age. For example, Cardinal Mario Zenari in Syria is almost 77 years old. The vacant nunciatures of Venezuela, Jordan, or the Central African Republic need a missionary charism.

Like a Row of Dominoes: An Analysis of the Latest Vatican Appointments| National Catholic Register