Pope changes membership of Congregation for Divine Worship

Oct 30th, 2016

Pope Francis has appointed 27 new members to the Congregation for Divine Worship, the body in charge of liturgical questions led by Cardinal Robert Sarah.

The Vatican announced on Friday that the new members of the congregation will include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, Cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Canadian Cardinal Gerald Lacroix, Archbishop Piero Marini, New Zealand Cardinal John Dew and US Bishop Arthur Serratelli.

Those who have been removed from the congregation include Cardinals Raymond Burke, Angelo Scola, George Pell, Marc Ouellet, Angelo Bagnasco, and Malcolm Ranjith.

It is routine for the Holy Father to make a few new appointments each year, but such a large number of changes is unusual. Some commentators have said that the new Congregation has a more liberal and international character now, and may provide a counterbalance to Cardinal Sarah who has expressed very traditional views - such as calling for priests and congregations to face East during Mass, and advising priests not to wash women's feet during the Holy Thursday Mass.

The full list of new members follows:

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, Germany

Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State

Cardinal Gerald Lacroix, Canada

Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso

Cardinal John Atcherley Dew, New Zealand

Cardinal Ricardo Blazquez Perez of Valladolid, Spain

Cardinal Arlindo Gomes Furtado of Cape Verde

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture

Cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy

Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong, India