SPECULATION that Australia's Cardinal George Pell is about to be appointed to a senior Vatican post has strengthened in Rome with high-ranking priests now regarding the move as a done deal. And Cardinal Pell's forthcoming book-launch tour of three states is increasingly thought to be a farewell tour, according to prominent Catholic blogs in Europe and Australia.
Yesterday a leading Italian newspaper, Il Giornale, speculated that just days ago, after Cardinal Pell had met Pope Benedict XVI, he had spent an hour with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re - the current prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
The report by journalist Andrea Tornielli - who has accurately predicted several developments during this pontificate - suggested that the meeting was to discuss Cardinal Pell taking over from 76-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who has been prefect for 10 years.
It also said Cardinal Pell had been "officially nominated" as Cardinal Battista Re's successor by the Pope.
The report matches rumours that have circulated in Rome for several months and said a formal announcement on Cardinal Pell's appointment would come within the next few weeks.
The Congregation for Bishops oversees the selection of new bishops around the world.
If appointed, Cardinal Pell would take up the position of prefect by the end of August.
Major changes in the Roman Curia often come either just before or after the Pope makes the move to the apostolic palace at Castel Gandolfo for his (northern) summer stay there.
Cardinal Pell's challenges if made prefect could include helping the Pope select new bishops for Ireland following the fallout from child abuse revelations, and recommending a replacement for himself in his current archdiocese of Sydney.
The Cardinal's new book, Test Everything: Hold Fast to What is Good, will be launched next Friday in the crypt of St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.
The launch will be followed by several stops in Melbourne, his Victorian home town of Ballarat, and Brisbane.
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