New Vatican official wants cultural duel to become duet of dialogue

Published: 2007-09-04

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The new head of the Pontifical Council for Culture said he wants to help turn the duel between different cultures and religions into a harmonious duet of dialogue and understanding. Msgr. Gianfranco Ravasi, a noted biblical scholar and former prefect of the Milan Archdiocese's Ambrosian Library, was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI Sept. 3 to replace the long-serving council president, French Cardinal Paul Poupard. Msgr. Ravasi will be ordained an archbishop in late September. The pope accepted the resignation of the 77-year-old cardinal, who was a leader of the council since its creation by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Pope Benedict also appointed Archbishop-designate Ravasi, 64, president of the pontifical commissions for the Cultural Heritage of the Church and for Sacred Archeology. Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, who was appointed secretary of the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy in the spring, had headed both commissions.

Copyright (c) 2007 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .