The election of Cardinal Daniel DiNardo as vice president of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops puts him in the position to be a key
player in the appointment of bishops in the United States, perhaps even
the kingmaker.
DiNardo has all of the attributes necessary to be a kingmaker.
As a
former staff person in the Vatican Congregation for Bishops, he knows
the process, the key players and the politics of episcopal appointments.
As a cardinal, now as vice president and eventually as president in
three years, he will make numerous visits to Rome, where he can make his
recommendations known to the right people, including Pope Francis.
He
has the additional advantage of being able to communicate with the pope
in Italian, since the pope is not at home in English.
Pope Francis has little personal knowledge of the United States. He
will be dependent on people to advise him.
The American prelate closest
to him is Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, but O'Malley is a saint, not
a politician. He will not push his favorites or even give his advice
unless the pope asks him.
In previous papacies, Cardinals Joseph Bernardin, John O'Connor,
Bernard Law, Justin Rigali, William Levada, James Stafford and, most
recently, Raymond Burke have influenced episcopal appointments in the
United States.
Cardinal Burke is still a member of the Congregation for
Bishops, a committee composed mostly of cardinals in Rome.
The appointment process begins when a bishop turns 75 or dies.
The
nuncio, the pope's representative to the U.S. church, is responsible for
drawing up a list of three names (called a terna) that is sent
to the Congregation for Bishops in Rome.
The nuncio usually consults
with all the U.S. cardinals and the archbishop of the province
containing the diocese, as well as the retiring bishop.
The Congregation for Bishops reviews the terna and the
nuncio's report. If they do not like the names, they tell the nuncio to
submit a new list.
Ultimately, they vote on the list, and the prefect of
the congregation takes three names to the pope, listed in order of
preference. The pope makes the final decision.
There is no question that Cardinal DiNardo will have influence.
How much will ultimately depend on Pope Francis.