Benedict’s private secretary becomes ambassador

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According to a Spanish media report, Benedict’s former private secretary, Georg Gänswein, could become Vatican ambassador to Costa Rica. The portal Religión Digital reported on Tuesday that the Catholic Papal States in the Central American country had already asked about the secondment of German Archbishop Curial. Neither the Holy See nor Gänswein initially commented on the report on the possible appointment as a so-called nuncio to Costa Rica.

The 66-year-old has been waiting for several weeks for Pope Francis to assign him a new task. until the death of Benedict XVI. on New Year’s Eve 2022, Gänswein was at the side of the Pope Emeritus.

Gänswein recently caused a stir in the Curia with the publication of a book about his time with Benedict. In it, the native of the Black Forest reports his disappointment at the fact that in 2020 he received permanent leave from Francis as prefect of the papal house. He also published the contents of some of the pope’s private letters. Francis has twice invited Gänswein for a private audience since the book’s publication; however, according to Gänswein, he did not disclose to him his future task.

An Apostolic Nuncio represents the interests of the Curia in the respective host country. So Gänswein should represent Francis’ line in Costa Rica – although there had always been reports and rumors of tension between the two. A transfer to Central America could also be interpreted as an opportunity to send the German cleric far away from the Curia in Rome.

Source: Blick