The Holy See has announced a series of high-level appointments, with Pope Leo XIV naming Archbishop Paolo Rudelli as the new Substitute for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State, one of the most influential positions in the Vatican.
Archbishop Rudelli, who currently serves as Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia, takes on the powerful role often compared to an “Interior Minister” of Vatican City.
Ordained in 1995 in Bergamo, the 55-year-old brings over two decades of diplomatic experience, having served in Vatican missions in Ecuador, Poland, and within the Secretariat of State itself.
His appointment marks a significant step in the Pope’s ongoing restructuring of the Vatican’s central administration.
It follows an earlier key appointment in November, when Nigerian theologian Monsignor Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo was named Assessor in the same department.
Speaking after the announcement, Archbishop Rudelli described his new role as a “gesture of undeserved trust” from the Pope.
He pledged to carry out his duties with faith and dedication, guided by the Church’s apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium and supported by Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
In another major development, Venezuelan Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, who previously held the position, has been appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Italy.
A seasoned diplomat, he has served in several countries including Kenya, Pakistan, Honduras, and Mexico, and played a role in peace mediation efforts in Mozambique.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Petar Rajič has been appointed Prefect of the Papal Household, ending a vacancy that lasted over six years.
In this role, he will oversee the organization and daily operations of the Pope’s official residence and schedule.
The latest appointments highlight Pope Leo XIV’s continued efforts to strengthen leadership within the Vatican and streamline its global diplomatic and administrative functions.
