Pope appoints Gallagher and Mamberti to key positions

Archbishop Gallagher is the first Englishman ever to hold such a position.

Rome:  In a series of top level changes in the Roman Curia, Pope Francis has appointed the English-born Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher as Secretary for Relations with States — the third highest position in the Vatican.

He succeeds the Moroccan-born Archbishop Dominque Mamberti, who had held the post since 15 September 2006, and whom the Pope has promoted to be Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Segnatura (a position equivalent to that of a Chief Justice).

Mamberti, a civil and canon lawyer, succeeds the American Cardinal Raymond Burke, who had served in that role since 27 June 2008 but was not confirmed in the post after completing the statutory five year term of office. Cardinal Burke has been re-assigned to be Patron of the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta.

Archbishop Gallagher is the first Englishman ever to hold such a position, and comes to this important role — the equivalent to that of a Foreign Minister — with thirty years of distinguished experience in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, in a wide variety of situations on all continents.

As Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Gallagher is head of the Second Section of the Secretariat of State. He will work very closely with Pope Francis in relations with heads of government, and with relations, especially those of a diplomatic nature, with states and other subjects of public international law.

Source: Vatican Insider