What happens to Pope Francis' appointees after his death?
After Pope Francis' sudden death on April 21, there are now questions about the next steps of the Catholic Church. One of which is about what becomes of the officials he appointed in various positions, including Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
In an interview with Storycon on One News, Fr. Gregory Gaston, rector of the Pontifico Collegio Filippino based in Rome, said that the heads of the Vatican offices who were appointed by Francis are now considered resigned from their positions, per Vatican policy.
"The ones appointed by the pope here are considered resigned. For example, the heads of the mission territory, so Cardinal Tagle, or the cardinal in charge of the religious, of the priests, of the families and lay people, all these cardinals are considered resigned," Gaston explained.
However, this policy doesn't affect their secretaries or their second-in-command, and they will continue to manage the office's day-to-day operations.
Tagle was appointed by Francis to serve as the Pro-Prefect for the Section of First Evangelization of the Dicastery for Evangelization (formerly the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples) in June 2022.
While the appointees no longer have to go to their offices, Gaston clarified that they still maintain their title as cardinals.
This is similar to how government officials customarily tender their resignations when a new administration assumes power.
He also noted that not all the cardinals will need to vacate their positions, citing Cardinals Jose Advincula and Pablo Virgilio David, who are the bishops of Manila and Caloocan, respectively.
According to Vatican News, other positions that will not be vacated include the Cardinal Camerlengo, the Major Penitentiary, the Cardinal Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, the Cardinal Archpriest of the Vatican Basilica and Vicar General for Vatican City, the Almoner of His Holiness, the Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, the Secretary for Relations with States, and the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations.
Roman Catholic cardinals are now expected to hold a conclave to elect the Church's 267th pontiff. The date of the conclave will be announced sometime after his funeral on Saturday, April 26.
The regular residents of the Casa Santa Martha (Domus Sanctae Martha), where Francis lived in his time as pope, will need to relocate to make room for the cardinal electors.
"The residents there throughout the year, normally they are the priests who are assigned to the secretary of state or to the different offices in the Vatican, about maybe 180 to 200," Gaston said.
The Casa Santa Martha was built during the pontificate of John Paul II to house cardinals, as they previously stayed in old buildings near the Vatican museums, as per the rector.
15 cardinals are among the potential favorites to become the next pope, known as the "papabili," divided by region. The list includes Cardinal Tagle.
Francis was elected as the successor of Pope Benedict XVI in March 2013.
In his will, he broke tradition as he chose to be a simple burial in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
