New leadership for Vatican's top canon-law office

(16 Feb. 2007) : Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Francesco Coccopalmerio as the president of the Poinfical Council for Legislative Text, the Vatican’s top office dealing with matters of canon law. He replaces Cardinal Julian Herranze Casado who submitted his resignation to the Pope at the age of 76. Bishop Coccopalmerio-- who will receive the title of archbishop as he takes the new post-- has been serving as an auxiliary in the Milan archdiocese. A native of Milan, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1962 and consecrated a bishop in 1993. He is a member of the Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signature.
The out-going Cardinal Herranze has been president of the decastery for over 12 years. A priest of Opus Dei, Bishop Herranze received his red hat from Pope John Paul II in October 2003. Pope Benedict also named 71-year-old Italian Bishop Bruno Bertagna, as vice president of the legislative-texts council and with the appointment elevated him to archbishop. Until now, Bishop Bertagna had been the secretary of the dicastery. The Pontiff appointed 55-year old Spanish Monsignor Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru, as secretary of the council. Mon. Chinchetru is a member of Opus Dei.