For centuries, when there were situations of ungovernability in the Curia or delicate internal inquiries to be carried out, clerics turned to the Jesuits or the Dominicans. But now, following the scandals linked to the Vatican’s finances and the leaked document case, the Holy See is relying on Opus Dei.
The Vatican has entrusted the presidency of the cardinals’ investigative commission to the right hand man of Opus Dei’s founder and a numerary journalist as head of communications.
The hunt for the poison pen letter writer has had the side effect of broadening the sphere of action and bolster the Opus Dei’s presence in the Apostolic Palace.
The man in charge of leading the investigations into the Vatican scandals is Julian Herranz, the Pope’s trusted jurist and former president of the dicastery for legislative texts and the Roman Curia’s disciplinary commission. He is also the historic secretary of St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer.
The Opus Dei recently gained another exemplary figure of faith: Alvaro de Portillo (successor of St. Josemaría Escrivá as head of the Opus Dei) who will soon be beatified when Benedict XVI signs the decree certifying the heroism of his Christian virtues. All that is left is for a miracle of his to be recognised.
The Pope received Herranz, De Giorgi and Tomko all together on Saturday 16 June, but the president of the commission, Herranz, had already had the chance to report to the Pope.
For some time now, the president of the commission has been known for his proverbial confidentiality, as noted in Sandro Magister’s “Vatican Diary” (an online section of Italian news magazine L’Espresso).”
This confidentiality did not hinder him from writing a book of memoirs some years ago, which despite not violating any secrets, contained a great deal of unknown and intriguing information.”
The book in question is entitled “Nei dintorni di Gerico” (In Jericho's environs).
The 480 page long volume was published by Opus Dei publishing house Ares, in January 2006, two years after John Paul II had created Herranz as cardinal, allowing him to participate in the conclave which elected Benedict XVI.
Regarding the case of the leaked confidential Vatican documents, Herranz illustrates in his book that the Vatileaks saga is no news to the Roman press, though never before has it been covered on quite such a scale.
On pages 300-301 he discusses how in the summer of 1979 “the information material on the Opus Dei’s transformation into a personal prelature and the accompanying letter” sent by the Opus Dei to Cardinal Sebastiano Baggio “and privately examined by the Holy See, had been sent by someone – a person or an institution – to bishops and the press in various countries across the world, presenting the information in a biased and tendentious manner.”
In a note on that text, Herranz cryptically added: “I do not intend in these memoirs to provide any further information on this point, following the advice which we were given by the Father (Escrivá, Ed.) in a meeting on 14 June 1972.” “Right from the beginning, ever since the early years, I took all necessary measures to ensure that no one bore a grudge or looked unfavourably at certain entities which have intentionally made us suffer a great deal in silence.
The Opus Dei strives to be charitable with everyone. I have always prayed to the Lord, with all the power in my soul, using a tough phrase: that I am the executioner of no man and no initiative that works or is born in service of God. We know how to forgive. To pardon. We are a statement: we do not like what is negative.”
It is hard to imagine Cardinal Herranz, the new head of the cardinals’ commission set up to investigate into the leaked document case, whose proportions are far bigger than the one which broke out thirty years ago, forgetting his master Josemaría’s meeting, “Vatican Diary” glossed.
What is certain is that the leaked document saga has been positive for the Opus Dei in terms of its strengthened position within the Roman Curia and the Vatican Gendarmerie.
The Vatileaks affair has also led to strong progress being made by the “American squad” in the Holy See.
The cardinals’ investigative commission is working alongside the Vatican magistrate, continuing its hearings and has still not given any indication as to how long it will take for the two inquiries to reach a conclusion. But this does not mean that the so-called Vatileaks case has not already put a strain on the life of that unique body that is the Roman Curia.
“Some consequences will become apparent shortly whilst other medium-long term ones can be predicted. The Opus Dei’s role in the Apostolic Palace has become noticeably greater as the Vatileaks scandal has gained pace.
The members which have gained roles of significance are Opus Dei cleric, Juan Ignacio Arrieta, as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Morga Iruzubieta of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, linked to Opus Dei, as Secretary for the Congregation of the Clergy and Vallejo Balda as Secretary of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.”
Herranz, the Opus Dei’s highest ranking figure in the Holy See and president of Arrieta’s dicastery, leads the cardinals’ commission. Then there is Greg Burke, a numerary member of the Opus Dei who has been chosen as the Secretary of State’s media adviser. He will be able to revive the splendour of Joaquín Navarro Valls (also a numerary member of the Opus Dei), John Paul II’s renowned spokesman.
Burke will be joining the Apostolic Palace’s media “crisis unit”, made up of the deputy Secretary of State, Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, the assessor Peter Brian Wells, Mgr. Carlo Maria Polvani (grandson of the Nuncio to the U.S., Carlo Maria Viganò) and by Vatican media directors: Vatican Radio’s Fr. Federico Lombardi and Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano’s Giovanni Maria Vian.
Burke’s appointment has also increased the United State’s influence in the Roman Curia, the “Vatican Diary” emphasised. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, Archbishops Augustine Di Noia and Joseph W. Tobin, Mgr. Wells and Fr. Michael J. Zielinski are already working in Rome.
And let us not forget Cardinal William J. Levada who is due to retire and retired cardinals Bernard F. Law and James F. Stafford.