Pope accepts resignation of head of congregation for religious

Published: 2004-02-11

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Spanish Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, 76, as head of the Vatican congregation for religious, ending 48 years of full-time Vatican service. The pope has tapped Slovenian Archbishop Franc Rode of Ljubljana as the new prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Archbishop Rode, 69, is a member of the Vincentian order and before being named archbishop of Ljubljana served as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture. The Vatican announced the changes Feb. 11. Cardinal Martinez Somalo continues to hold the title of chamberlain or "camerlengo" of the Holy Roman Church. The chamberlain is the cardinal designated to take temporary charge of the goods and temporal affairs of the church between the death of one pope and the election of his successor.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .