Pope Appoints Head of Bishops and Council for New Evangelisation

(30 Jun 10 – RV) On Wednesday Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re from the post of Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America on having reached the age of retirement.

Cardinal Re, who turned 76 January last, had held both posts since 2000.

The Holy Father has appointed Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., Archbishop of Québec and Primate of Canada, to lead the Congregation and Commission.
 Born on 8 June 1944 in Lamotte, near Amos, Canada, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Amos on 25 May 1968. He holds licentiates in theology and philosophy, and a doctorate in dogmatic theology.

On 15 November 2002, Cardinal Ouellet was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Quebec.
He is a member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology and was Relator General of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church” (5-26 October 2008).

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of 21 October 2003, of the Title of S. Maria in Traspontina (Holy Mary in Transpontina).

Also on Monday, Pope Benedict XVI announced the President of the recently created Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation. It will be led by Italian Archbishop, Rino Fisichella.

Archbishop Fisichella, to date, held the post of President for the Pontifical Academy for Life. He will be replaced at that post by Spanish native, Mgr. Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, the former chancellor of said Academy.

Archbishop Fisichella also held the posy of Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University. He will be replaced in this role by Don Enrico dal Covolo, S.D.B.