ANALYSIS: The decision to send the most recent head of St. Peter’s Basilica to lead a peripheral Italian diocese may signal a shift in Leo XIV’s approach to the status quo set by his predecessor.
The appointment of Cardinal Mauro Gambetti as archbishop of Chieti-Vasto, Italy, represents the first real personnel change of Leo XIV’s pontificate.
Cardinal Gambetti became archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica in 2021 and has completed his five-year term. He could have been reappointed. He could have been assigned to another position in the Vatican, but he hasn’t.
He is being sent to lead the Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto, a minor diocese that has been led by Archbishop Bruno Forte since 2004.
It’s ironic to think that Archbishop Forte seemed, at the beginning of Pope Francis’ pontificate, a rising star, special secretary of the Synod on the Family and author, among other things, of a controversial text during the 2014 synod session that opened the door to welcoming homosexuals.
Archbishop Forte represented the synod according to Pope Francis, and 12 years ago, a brilliant career was envisioned, with a cardinalate just around the corner. Archbishop Forte, however, was also reckless enough to reveal behind-the-scenes details of the synod
