Pope chooses Polish Dominican as theologian of papal household

Published: 2005-12-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has chosen a 54-year-old British-born Polish Dominican to serve as theologian of the papal household. The Vatican announced the appointment of Father Wojciech Giertych Dec. 1. He succeeds 83-year-old Swiss Cardinal Georges Cottier, a Dominican who held the position since 1989. The theologian of the papal household serves as a private theological consultant to the pope, living in an apartment in the Apostolic Palace. He also serves as a consultant to the congregations for the Doctrine of the Faith and for Saints' Causes and to the International Theological Commission. At the time of his nomination, Father Giertych was serving as assistant to the master general of the Dominicans with special responsibility for Dominican schools, universities and the intellectual life of the order's members. He is a member of the Dominican general council in Rome and a professor of moral theology at Dominican-run Angelicum University in Rome.

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