UCA News
Contribute

English archbishop to lead Vatican worship congregation

Pope Francis appoints Archbishop Arthur Roche as the new prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship
English archbishop to lead Vatican worship congregation

Pope Francis with Archbishop Arthur Roche in May 2016. (Photo: vaticannews

Published: May 28, 2021 06:06 AM GMT
Updated: May 28, 2021 06:09 AM GMT

Pope Francis has named English Archbishop Arthur Roche to lead the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, the Vatican said.

The 71-year-old archbishop succeeds Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, 75, who led the congregation from 2014 until his Feb. 20 resignation. The Vatican announced the appointment on May 27.

The congregation is charged with promoting the celebration of the Mass and the sacraments and fostering their correct celebration, including by overseeing the approval of the translations of liturgical books and texts.

Born in Yorkshire in 1950, the new prefect led the Diocese of Leeds until his appointment as secretary of the congregation in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. While head of the Leeds Diocese, then-Bishop Roche also served as chairman of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, which was responsible for the current English translation of the Roman Missal, the book of prayers recited at Mass.

After Cardinal Sarah retired, Pope Francis asked Bishop Claudio Maniago of Castellaneta, president of the Italian bishops' conference's liturgical commission and a member of the congregation, to consult with the office staff and review its procedures.

Responding to questions from Catholic News Service through an assistant in March, Archbishop Roche said the visitation was "more in the nature of the consultations a diocesan bishop would have with his vicar general and others when he is appointing a new parish priest. In such an instance, the idea is to get to know the needs of the parish, the actual situation, as well as having an eye to its future direction."

Italian Bishop Vittorio Francesco Viola of Tortona will succeed Archbishop Roche as the congregation's secretary

The Vatican also announced that Italian Bishop Vittorio Francesco Viola of Tortona will succeed Archbishop Roche as the congregation's secretary. The pope also granted the Italian prelate the title of archbishop.

Archbishop Viola, a Franciscan, had led the Diocese of Tortona -- located in the northern Italian region of Piedmont -- since 2014.

According to the diocesan website, Archbishop Viola also serves on the Italian bishops' conference liturgical commission and taught at Rome's Pontifical Institute of Liturgy. He is also a member of the theology faculty at Rome's Pontifical Lateran University.

Lastly, Pope Francis named Msgr. Aurelio García Macías, already an official at the congregation, as its undersecretary and named him titular bishop of Rotdan. Born in Pollos, a small town in Spain's Valladolid province, Bishop-elect Macías has served as a congregation official since 2015.

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
Asian Bishops
Latest News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia