VATICAN CITY, OCT. 7, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, 66, secretary of the Congregation for Clergy, as prefect of the same dicastery.
A Vatican communiqué reported today that the Pope also appointed Archbishop Robert Sarah, 65, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, as president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.
Archbishop Piacenza succeeds Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, 76, who retired for reasons of age.
After hearing of his appointment, the prelate told ZENIT that he aims to “work tirelessly for the true good of the clergy and of the Church, without putting anything before the love of Christ.”
He underlined the need for education, both initial and ongoing, of the clergy, noting that “it is necessary to continually monitor because we should not be forming functionaries of God, but rather another Christ.”
Mauro Piacenza was born in Genoa, Italy, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1969. He has been serving in the Congregation for Clergy since 1990. In 1997 he was named office manager, and in 2000, undersecretary.
In 2003, Father Piacenza was named president of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church. He was ordained a bishop that same year.
In 2004, Bishop Piacenza became president of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology. In 2007 he became secretary of the Congregation for Clergy.
Archbishop Sarah
Archbishop Sarah succeeds Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, 76, as head of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.
Born in Ourous, Guinea, Robert Sarah was ordained to the priesthood for the Conakry Archdiocese in 1969.
He was named bishop of Conakry in 1979, and received his episcopal ordination on Dec. 8 of that year.
Bishop Sarah was appointed secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in 2001.
