Australian church lawyer appointed by pope as Vatican's chief legal expert
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV appointed Australian Bishop Anthony Randazzo as prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, the Vatican office responsible for interpreting and writing the Catholic Church’s canon law and advising on legal matters, including those of Vatican City State.
- Randazzo, 59, succeeds Archbishop Filippo Iannone and brings extensive experience, having studied canon law and worked five years at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles clergy sexual abuse cases globally.
- His appointment is notable given Australia’s troubled history with clergy abuse and cover-up, as Randazzo was involved in managing fallout during the period of Australia’s Royal Commission investigation into widespread abuse by priests.
- Pope Leo XIV, also a canon lawyer, may be signaling awareness of the need for reform in the church’s legal handling of abuse cases, although no official changes have been announced.
- Randazzo expressed gratitude for the appointment and plans to remain in Australia for three months before relocating to Rome.
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