Pope gives Cardinal Tagle new assignments in Vatican

MANILA, Jan. 31, 2013— Two months after being elevated as cardinal, the head of Manila’s Catholic Church on Thursday has been appointed to two vital councils in the Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI has given Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle new assignments to help him govern the universal church.

The pope named Tagle as member of presiding committee of the Pontifical Council for the Family and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.

New assignments in the dicasteries and organs of the Roman Curia were also given to the five other new cardinals, created in the consistory last November along with Tagle.

According to the Catholic News Agency, while keeping their main jobs, the new assignments allow the cardinals to bring their experience and perspective to bear on the discussions and decisions of the central church offices that assist the pontiff.

As member of the two Rome-based offices, Tagle may attend the Council’s important meetings and receive regular correspondence from Rome on matters that need consensus.

It will be recalled that the pope has just appointed Jolo Bishop Angelito Lampon to be part of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue last October.

The other appointees include:

– For US Cardinal James Harvey, archpriest of Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, membership on the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and on the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, which oversees Vatican property and investments.

– Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, head of the Maronite Catholic Church, was named a member of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, the Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signature, the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

– Indian Cardinal Baselio Cleemis Thottunkal, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, was named a member of the Congregation for Eastern Churches and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

– Nigerian Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja was named a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the presiding committee of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

– Colombian Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez of Bogota was named a member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. (CBCPNews)