Newsroom (21/05/2025 20:39, Gaudium Press) Peruvian priest Edgard Ivan Rimaycun has become the Pope’s new secretary. The 36-year-old was seen sitting next to the pontiff on Wednesday, helping him with the microphone before his speech to the representatives of the Eastern Churches.
Rimaycun has not received any official appointment, but has accompanied Cardinal Robert Prevost since his time in Chiclayo. In 2006, the young man entered the major seminary of San Turibio de Mogroviejo in Chiclayo. There, he met Prevost, who became his spiritual director, and he was invited to work with him after he became the local bishop.
When Prevost was ordained a cardinal and sent to Rome to collaborate with the Dicastery for Bishops and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the two separated for a short time.
At the time, the priest sent him this message, published by the EFE news agency: “Thank you very much, Monsignor Robert Prevost, for everything, for allowing me to work alongside you, but above all for your friendship and trust. Have a good trip and a big hug! Oremus ad invicem!”
In 2017, Rimaycuna, encouraged by the then Msgr. Prevost decided to move to Rome to continue his formation at the prestigious Pontifical Biblical Institute, an institution known for its academic excellence in religious studies. This step was fundamental in preparing him to take on roles of greater responsibility within the Church.
Shortly afterwards, Edgard Iván Rimaycun was asked by Prevost to continue working with him. Faced with this new task, he confessed: “I left Chiclayo with nostalgia, but with the certainty that I will continue to work alongside a friend and guide for the good of the Church”.
Later, it became known that throughout 2024, he worked in the community of Manesseno, in Liguria, and this year, after Leo XIV’s inauguration, the latter called him back, this time to become his personal secretary.
The secretary was already at his side in the early days of his pontificate, but he wasn’t there on Monday, during the meeting with journalists in the Paul VI Hall. So today’s meeting was his first official act. Rimaycun not only helped him with the microphone, but also took care of the sheets with the Pope’s speech, sitting next to him.
Rimaycuna will be responsible for managing the papal agenda, coordinating administrative tasks, and providing logistical support at the Vatican.
Compiled by Dominic Joseph
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