Archbishop Ganswein plans to remain prefect of Papal Household

Vatican City, Feb 14, 2013 / 08:40 am

Archbishop Georg Ganswein will move with Pope Benedict XVI when he retires on Feb. 28, but he also intends to retain his role as head of the Papal Household.

"The Pope will be accompanied to Castel Gandolfo and also to the monastery by Archbishop Georg and the Memores Domini, because this is the fundamental nuclear group of the pontifical family."

"He will also remain the head of the Papal Household. And the future, the future is in God's hands," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told the press on Feb. 14.

The Memores Domini are four consecrated women in the Communion and Liberation movement who assist in running the Papal Household.

Fr. Lombardi was asked later if Pope Benedict might be able to influence the new Pope through the archbishop and if this presented a conflict of interest.

"I think that the prefect of the Papal Household has a competence that is not so much of government, doctrine, or decisions on a governmental level.

"It's a very practical competence about the audiences of the Pope," the Vatican spokesman said.