Benedict XVI has decided not to take any decisions until after Easter, with regard to "changing" the most delicate and important Congregation, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The current titular bishop, the American, William Levada, has expressed his collaboration and his wish to be substituted. In past weeks, Benedict XVI received a candidate who seemed more than likely to take up the post, Mgr. Gerhard Mueller, Titular Bishop of Regensburg.
Benedict XVI did not make any promises to him; he did say to him, however, that no decision with regard to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would be taken before Easter.
It is widely known that Mgr. Mueller has his heart set on the post; indeed, it seems the idea of calling him to Rome and putting him in charge of the Vatican Library, replacing Mgr. Farina who will soon have to leave his position, was not met with huge enthusiasm by Mgr. Mueller.
However, the possibility of Mgr. Mueller being nominated to Mainz, replacing Cardinal Lehmann and thus eventually being created cardinal, is not to be excluded.
Lehmann is 76 and had to give up the Presidency of the German Episcopal Conference for health reasons.
But it seems Benedict XVI is looking for an English speaker to take over the leadership of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
This is because he believes that the western world in general and the United States in particular, are the social and cultural places with the strongest and most pressing challenges to the Church’s doctrine and the Christian faith.