Pope Francis on Thursday, October 15, appointed Bishop Marcello Semeraro, currently Bishop of Albano, as the new Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Semeraro, who turns 73 in December, was born in Monteroni di Lecce, Puglia, in Italy. He was ordained priest in 1971 and was appointed Bishop of Oria by St. John Paul II in 1998. He was then transferred to the Suburbicarian Church of Albano on 1 October 2004. He is currently Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Exarchic Monastery of S. Maria di Grottaferrata and Pontifical Delegate of the Basilian Order of Italy.

DRC’s Cardinal Besungu appointed to Council of Cardinals

Pope Francis’ latest appointment to the Council of Cardinals brings an African perspective to the table.

Cardinal Ambongo Besungu of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the most recent addition to the group of Cardinal Advisors tasked with assisting the Pope in the government of the Universal Church and in the drafting and revision of the new Apostolic Constitution that will replace the Constitution Pastor Bonus promulgated by Pope Saint John Paul II.