Pope Leo XIV has appointed Italian Archbishop Paolo Rudelli the new head of the general affairs section of the Secretariat of State, one of the most influential positions in the Roman Curia, while also naming Archbishop Petar Rajič as the new prefect of the Papal Household. Source: NCR.
Archbishop Rudelli will take on the role of “sostituto” (“substitute”), commonly considered the third most powerful position in the Vatican, after the Holy Father and the secretary of state.
Meanwhile, as prefect of the Papal Household, Archbishop Rajič will head the body of the Roman Curia responsible for organising the pope’s schedule, audiences, and ceremonies — a position considered one of the highest levels of trust.
Archbishop Rajič, who is Canadian and Croatian, has been serving as apostolic nuncio to Italy and the Republic of San Marino. His appointment places him in a key role for managing the day-to-day public activities of the Pope.
The new “sostituto,” 55-year-old Archbishop Rudelli, has been apostolic nuncio to Colombia since 2023. He replaces Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, a Venezuelan who has been in the role since 2018 and who will replace Archbishop Rajič as the Pope’s envoy to Italy and San Marino.
The appointment to the No. 2 position in the Secretariat of State is the biggest change to Vatican leadership made by Pope Leo since his election on May 8, 2025.
The “sostituto” is responsible for key functions in the internal coordination of the Holy See, especially at the operational level in the day-to-day management of the Secretariat of State and in the direct oversight of the pope’s documents, speeches, and activities.
These duties are accompanied by the task of publishing and disseminating official communications regarding the activity of the Pope and the Holy See as well as organising apostolic journeys.
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Pope Names Vatican Diplomats to Key Positions in Secretariat of State, Papal Household (By Victoria Cardiel, EWTN News/ACI Prensa via National Catholic Reporter)
