Rorate Caeli

Free at last: Burke put in an honorific job at 66

The famous view of St.Peter's dome from the headquarters of the Order of Malta on the Aventine Hill
It had been known for months, but today it has been confirmed: Pope Francis, in a move that has no precedent in modern times for a man who is still a very young Cardinal, removed Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke from his position as Prefect of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, or from any pastoral, governance, or judicial position, and named him to the almost purely honorific position of "Cardinal Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta" (usually given to retired cardinals or historically as a ceremonial position that is held by cardinals exercising actual pastoral or governing functions elsewhere).

To his previous position, the Pope named the former Secretary for Relations with States of the State Secretariat, French Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. English Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, up to now Nuncio to Australia, is named to replace Mamberti.

We wish these three men all the best in their new positions.

The Palazzo Magistrale, at Via dei Condotti, near Piazza di Spagna

Cumque sevisset Israel, ascendebat Madian et Amalec. Humiliatusque est Israel valde in conspectu Madian.