The recent movements in the Secretariat of State point to an imminent reconfiguration of one of the key positions in the Vatican, in a context also marked by the impact of the Becciu case and its internal consequences.
Peña Parra, headed to the nunciature in Italy
According to Il Giornale, Monsignor Edgar Peña Parra, current substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, would be preparing to leave the position. From the Farnesina—the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs—the approval has already arrived for his appointment as apostolic nuncio in Italy.
This is a movement of great relevance, given that the substitute is one of the most influential figures in the Roman Curia, with key functions in the internal coordination of the Vatican apparatus and in the ordinary management of the Holy See.
Rudelli, the chosen one to replace him
To occupy that strategic position, the Pope would have already made a decision: the chosen one would be Monsignor Paolo Rudelli, current apostolic nuncio in Colombia.
Rudelli is considered an experienced diplomat within the Holy See’s foreign service, and his eventual appointment would mean a replacement with a clearly diplomatic profile in a position that in recent years has been at the center of various internal tensions.
His rise has been marked by direct appointments during the pontificate of Francis, who designated him archbishop and nuncio, in addition to entrusting him with missions in complex contexts such as Zimbabwe and Colombia.
A replacement at a delicate moment
These movements are taking place in a particularly sensitive context for the Secretariat of State, marked by the consequences of the judicial process related to the funds managed by this dicastery.
The recent decision of the court of appeal, which has declared the relative nullity of the conviction of Cardinal Angelo Becciu—former substitute—has once again put the internal management and power dynamics within this body under the spotlight.
The weight of the Becciu precedent
The Becciu case, which in 2020 led to the sudden fall of one of the most powerful men in the Vatican, continues to cast its shadow over the Secretariat of State. The judicial review of the process reinforces the perception that that episode not only had penal implications, but also institutional ones.
In this context, the replacement at the top operational level of the dicastery is not interpreted solely as an ordinary change, but as part of a broader reorganization in one of the nerve centers of the Church’s government.