This applies in terms of content, but also in the personnel decisions: Apart from the re-occupation of his own former position in the dicastery for the bishops, Pope Leo XIV has not yet announced an important new appointment in the Roman Curia, i.e. the central administration of the worldwide Catholic Church, in the first eight months of his pontificate.
The ones of him after the election of 8. May initially pronounced extension of the previous couria offices "until further notice" (donec aliter provideatur) still applies. But since he has personally declared that he wants to handle the age limits for bishops (and therefore also for most curia chiefs) more strictly than his predecessor, some decisions are inexorably approaching in the current year.
It's not just veterans' turn
This applies first to the Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch. He is currently the last German-speaking person at the head of a Vatican authority. For 15 years, the successor of Cardinal Walter Kasper has been responsible for dialogue with the other churches and with Judaism, and thus one of the longest-serving curia chiefs ever.
Last year, Koch has yet to kick off some important anniversary dates, especially the 1,700-year celebrations of the Ecumenical Council of Nicea in Turkey in November. Before that, the 60 stood. Anniversary of the important Council declaration "Nostra aetate" on the program, which was not least about relations with Judaism. A fourth term for Koch is extremely unlikely. In addition, he recently took on an important task with the election as president of the international charity "Church in Need", which also demands him beyond his curia office.
Only about five years in office, but soon (on 6. March) 76 years old, is Cardinal Arthur Roche from England. In May, his first five-year term as prefect of the Dicastery for the liturgy expires, and due to age, a second term is virtually out of the question. At the extraordinary consistory, he was allowed to attend on 7. January once again (in writing) the liturgical political line of Pope Francis. But already at the next cardinal meeting in the Vatican at the end of June, it could be that his successor as a liturgical prefect introduces the issue.
The personnel decision at the head of the liturgical authority is groundbreaking: it will provide information about the Pope's orientation on this highly controversial issue between traditionalists and reformers.
Two North Americans before the farewell
Another sure candidate for the substitution is the previous prefect of the Dicastery for lay and family, the Irish-American Kevin Farrell (78). His second quinquennium ends in August, shortly after which he turns 79. His post is one of the few that even a layman (whatever gender) could easily exercise. At this point, Leo would have XIV. Opportunity to show whether he wants to continue the opening of top-level municipal offices for women and men without priestly ordination, which began by his predecessor.
Also close to retirement is the prefect of the "mega-dicastery" for holistic development, the Canadian Michael Czerny. He has only been in charge of the authority for almost four years, but at the latest with his 80. Birthday on 18. July is likely to end his term. Cardinal Fabio Baggio (61) is considered a favourite for the succession. He gave the keynote speech on the Vatican Curia, which was rebuilt by Pope Francis, at the recent consistory and is considered a man with good chances of advancement.
Since Leo made the long-time prefect Filippo Iannone (68) the head of the Episcopal Dicastery in October, the post of papal chief lawyer has also been vacant. Since the second man in the authority, the Spanish Opus-Dei man Juan Ignacio Arrieta on 10. April already turns 75, he has little prospect of succession. The northern Italian Curia bishop Marco Mellino (59) is likely to have more chances, which Pope Leo XIV only appointed as "Associated Secretary" at the end of November. Mellino has earned great merit in the predecessor pontificate as secretary of the Cardinals' Council K9.
The 70-year age limit for laypeople reaches the prefect of the communications dicastery, Paolo Ruffini, in October. Some observers expect that Leo XIV will combine the upcoming personnel change at the top with further reshuffles and possibly also with structural conversions in the Vatican communication department. It remains one of the most personnel-intensive and costly departments in the Vatican, and it is under constant pressure to change because of the general changes in the media sector.
The two most important posts
Among all possible personnel decisions of the Pope, two in particular are considered to be particularly trend-setting. One concerns the "theological thought leader" under Pope Francis, Cardinal Víctor Fernández (63). As prefect of the dicastery of faith, he is responsible for the fundamental theological-dogmatic line of the pontificate. Neither from the age nor from the term of office (Francis brought him to Rome only in September 2023) is a regular replacement for him.
And so Leo could leave the Argentine in office for a while - very similar to what Francis did with Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller at the time, although both theologically ticked very differently. How Leo and Fernández harmonize with each other in teaching questions is still uncertain at the moment.
At the Consistory on 7. January, Fernández completed the feat of speaking out for changes in the new pontificate while also adopting for a continuation of the dynamic core message of the first Latin American pontiff. Such "both-and-thinking" is well compatible with the approach that Pope Leo XIV also pursues for bridging the opposites within the Church.
Probably even more important than the place of the prefect of faith is that of the Cardinal Secretary of State. The current owner Pietro Parolin (71) is one of the veterans in the Vatican. Since 15. In October 2013, the delicately active diplomat from the Veneto leads the Vatican foreign policy towards the states and the local churches. His most controversial work, the secret agreement with the Chinese leadership on the appointment of bishops, actually seems to have led to some pacification in the Middle Kingdom - both between the divided wings of the Church and between the Church and the Communist Party.
If his health remains stable, Parolin should therefore probably be able to complete his third term in October 2028. In view of the crisis-ridden world situation in many places, a chief diplomat with the experience and connections of Parolin currently seems more valuable to the Pope than ever. The chemistry between Leo XIV and his initially quite promising competitor in the conclave seems better than ever.