Papal liturgist named to work with worldwide eucharistic congresses

Published: 2007-10-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- After 20 years as the master of pontifical liturgical celebrations, Archbishop Piero Marini was named president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses Oct. 1. Archbishop Marini, 65, has spent all but three months of his priestly ministry working at the Vatican, starting in 1965 as an official of the office charged with implementing the liturgical changes called for by the Second Vatican Council. His high profile as Pope John Paul II's master of ceremonies and his openness to the use of local music, instruments, languages and dance at papal Masses led some people to speculate he would be one of the first Vatican officials Pope Benedict XVI would replace. Instead, he was in charge of Pope Benedict's public liturgies for more than two years. Pope Benedict also named his successor: Msgr. Guido Marini, 42, the master of ceremonies to the last four archbishops of Genoa, including Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the current Vatican secretary of state. He also had served as Cardinal Bertone's private secretary. Msgr. Marini, who holds degrees in canon law and in psychology, is not related to Archbishop Marini.

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