Pope Appoints Prelate Secretary of the Council for the Economy

Vatican City, 22 March 2014: Pope Francis has appointed on Saturday Fr. Brian Ferme as Prelate Secretary of the Council for the Economy. The Prelate Secretary has the task of assisting the Cardinal Coordinator in the fulfilment of the functions of the Council for the Economy, whose competences are associated with the guidance and supervision of the administrative and financial activities of the economic entities of the Holy See.

Pope Francis’ motu proprio: Fidelis dispensator et prudens of 24 February 2014, established the Secretariat for the Economy. It is presided over by Cardinal George Pell. The Motu proprio also established the institution of the Council for the Economy, which has Cardinal Reinhard Marx as its Cardinal coordinator.

Fr Brian Ferme was born in 1955, and is a priest in the diocese of Portsmouth, England. He completed his philosophical, theological and canonical studies in Melbourne, Oxford and Rome. He is the author of numerous scientific publications and articles. He has served
as professor of Canon Law at the Gregorian Pontifical University and subsequently at the Pontifical Lateran University, where he became Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law in 2000. In 2003, in Washington, he became Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, after which he transferred to Venice as Head of the St. Pius X Faculty of Canon Law. He also collaborates with various dicasteries of the Roman Curia.Source: VR Sedoc