Leo XIV begins arranging his papal household
The Pope has appointed a new official to organise his daily schedule, and now has his full roster of secretaries
VATICAN CITY (PerMariam) — The appointment of an Augustinian to the papal household this week suggests that Leo XIV is beginning to form his reliable circle of friends and advisors which is so key in the Vatican.
On November 10, the Holy See announced the appointment of Father Edward Daniang Daleng, O.S.A. as the Vice-Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household.
Ordained as an Augustinian priest on 2005, Daleng later received a doctorate in moral theology from Rome’s Alphonsian Academy and has also served as general counsellor and procurator general of the Order of Saint Augustine. As such he will be very familiar with Leo XIV, who served as Augustinian provincial prior in the U.S. from 1998 through 2001, and then Prior General of the entire order from 2001 until 2013.
The Prefecture of the Papal Household is externally perhaps only known for being the go-to office when pilgrims wish to attend papal audiences. But the daily duties of those in the Prefecture revolve around the Pope’s own schedule, as the leading official serves as the major-domo of the household and is about as close to the Pope as his private secretary.
It is the officials of the Prefecture who orchestrate the Pope’s diary, all his private and public audiences, any non-liturgical ceremonies, and any papal travel within Italy.
The office of Prefect of the papal household has been a vacant position since the departure of Archbishop Georg Gänswein in February 2023.
Currently 72-year-old Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza is regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household and thus the ranking official in the pope’s household circle. Sapienza, who turns 73 next week, has de facto fulfilled the duties Gänswein performed but curiously Pope Francis never formally filled the archbishop’s position.
Fr. Daleng (48 years old) will work under the authority of Sapienza, but will most likely be a closer aid of the Pope than his official title, as Leo has hinted at his desire to live a more communal life in the Apostolic Palace, based on his Augustinian life.
But his appointment has raised eyebrows since the position of vice-regent did not exist before, and the office of Prefect still remains empty. Rather than name Sapienza as Prefect and Daleng as the regent, Leo has created the new role and left the traditional leadership position empty.
Some analysts suggest the appointment demonstrates Leo is settling into his role. “The appointment of an Augustinian to the ‘master’ body of the papal agenda makes it clear that Prevost intends to start shaping the Curia with people in whom he has absolute confidence,” wrote Vaticanista Nico Spuntoni.
Others around Rome have been more hesitant to praise the move and have lamented the fact that the traditional nature of the Prefecture is being lost by not naming a Prefect.
Whether Daleng will be a revolutionary vice-regent or a loyal ally to a Pope who knows well the dangers of the Roman Curia, will soon be seen.
Pope Benedict XVI made Gänswein the Prefect even while he also served as papal secretary. Leo however seems unlikely to follow suit.
His two secretaries are the Peruvian Father Edgard Iván Rimaycuna Inga and the Italian Father Marco Billeri, who was called up from the Diocese of San Miniato. Leo has had a long working relationship with the still young Rimaycuna, but his selection of Fr. Billeri was seen by some Vatican analysts as notable.
Traditionally the second secretary might be chosen from the Secretariat of State, but Leo bucked this trend, prompting some to speculate that he was ken to ensure his household personnel would be loyal to him and not the property of any other offices of the Roman Curia – especially the Secretariat of State.
Pope Francis’ secretary from Argentina, Father Daniel Pellizzón, has also remained on the scene in recent months though his longer term future is unclear.
Much is still expected from Leo regarding his response to high-profile crises in the Church. The fact that he is ordering his personal household suggests he is steadily working down a list of jobs, one at a time.