Pope changes things up in Vatican Dicastery

Vatican City, Feb 15, 2007 / 14:27 pm

Pope Benedict XVI made major changes in leadership at the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Thursday, accepting the resignation of current President Cardinal Julian Herranz and naming a new president, vice-president, and secretary for the Pontifical Council.

The new president of the dicastery, which is responsible for offering authoritative interpretations of the Code of Canon Law, is Archbishop-elect Francesco Coccopalmerio, who was called from his duties as Auxiliary Bishop of Milan.

The archbishop-elect was born near Milan in 1938.  The prelate holds degrees in Theology and Moral Theology from the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy and the Alphonsianum, respectively.  He also holds a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Gregorian University and a Doctorate in Civil Law from the Catholic University of Milan.  Prior to his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Milan in 1993, Coccopalmerio worked both in civil and canon law for the archdiocese.  He also served as a professor of Canon Law for over 30 years.

Coccopalmerio’s predecessor, Cardinal Julian Herranz had served as president of the Pontifical Council since 1994 and presented his resignation over a year ago, after reaching the age of 75.

The Holy Father also appointed Bishop Bruno Bertagna, who was previously serving as the Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts and auditor general of the Apostolic Camera, as vice president of the same Pontifical Council.  With his appointment, Bishop Bertagna has also been elevated to the office of archbishop.  

The archbishop-elect was born in Tiedoli di Borgo Val di Taro, Italy in 1935, he was ordained a priest in 1959 and consecrated a bishop in 1991.
 
To replace Archbishop-elect Bertagna as Secretary the Holy Father also appointed Msgr. Juan Igancio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru of the personal prelature of Opus Dei.