Pope Leo XIV announces major Vatican appointments, naming Archbishop Paolo Rudelli Substitute for General Affairs, Edgar Peña Parra Nuncio to Italy, and Petar Rajič Prefect of the Papal Household.
Newsroom (30/03/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a sweeping reorganization of the Vatican’s inner administration, Pope Leo XIV has made three major appointments that realign the Holy See’s diplomatic and domestic leadership. The changes, announced in Rome on Sunday, shift seasoned prelates between three key institutional pillars—the Secretariat of State, the Italian Nunciature, and the Prefecture of the Papal Household.
At the center of the shuffle is Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, 55, who leaves his post as Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia to become the new Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. He succeeds Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, who is appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Italy and San Marino, succeeding Archbishop Petar Rajič, who in turn becomes Prefect of the Papal Household.
A Diplomat at the Heart of Vatican Administration
Archbishop Rudelli’s elevation marks a notable return for the Bergamo-born prelate to the heart of the Vatican’s executive machinery. The Substitute for General Affairs—often likened to the Vatican’s Interior Minister—oversees the daily functioning of the Curia, coordinates papal correspondence, and manages the internal affairs of the Holy See.
Ordained in 1995, Rudelli entered the Vatican diplomatic service in 2001, serving in Ecuador, Poland, and within the Secretariat of State’s own Section for General Affairs. His steady rise through the ranks reflects over two decades of experience bridging pastoral and diplomatic service.
Calling his appointment “a gesture of undeserved trust,” Rudelli expressed gratitude to Pope Leo XIV and pledged to carry out his duties “moved by faith” and guided by the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium. He acknowledged the support of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State, and spoke of his confidence in Assessor Monsignor Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo, describing his new mission as “a service of communion and fidelity.”
Peña Parra Moves to Rome’s Diplomatic Front Line
Venezuelan Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, 65, transitions from the Secretariat of State to the diplomatic forefront as Nuncio to Italy—a rare honor that underscores the importance of the role in Vatican diplomacy. Since 2018, Peña Parra has been one of the most powerful figures in the Curia, overseeing the Vatican’s day-to-day governance under Pope Francis and now Pope Leo XIV.
His career, rich in diplomatic assignments—from Kenya and the former Yugoslavia to Pakistan and Mozambique—has occasionally intersected with controversy. Reports from his native Venezuela once prompted public defense by the local episcopate, and his name surfaced in connection with the London property investment case that led to a Vatican financial trial later annulled due to procedural errors.
Observers in Rome interpret his new appointment as both a vote of confidence and a strategic step in Pope Leo XIV’s ongoing realignment of the Curia—balancing continuity with measured reform of inherited structures.
Continuity and Renewal in the Papal Household
The third major appointment completes the Vatican’s internal reorganization: Archbishop Petar Rajič, previously Nuncio to Italy, becomes Prefect of the Papal Household, filling a post vacant for over six years since Archbishop Georg Gänswein departed. Croatian-Canadian by heritage, Rajič brings experience from prior missions in the Baltic States and long service in Vatican diplomacy.
As Prefect, he will oversee the scheduling of papal audiences, coordinate official visits, and manage the domestic life of the Apostolic Palace—tasks demanding discretion, precision, and trust. His appointment rounds out what analysts describe as Pope Leo XIV’s effort to consolidate leadership across the Church’s executive, diplomatic, and ceremonial arms.
A Sign of the Times
This latest reshuffling confirms Pope Leo XIV’s methodical approach to governance in his still-young pontificate: a preference for seasoned diplomats with deep institutional memory, paired with a renewed emphasis on transparency and pastoral sensitivity within the Vatican’s top ranks.
In the words of one Curia official, the new appointments “signal stability amid transition—a nod to experience, but also to trust.” For the Holy See, it marks another step in its careful evolution at the intersection of faith, diplomacy, and global scrutiny.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News and InfoVaticana
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