In addition to several other new members, Pope Francis has appointed Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest as a member of the Holy See’s Economc Council, the Vatican announced on August 6.
Established by Pope Francis in 2014, the council supervises the economic management of the structures, along with the administrative and financial activities, of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as the Institutions connected with the Holy See and Vatican City State. It is composed of fifteen Members, eight of whom are chosen from among Cardinals and Bishops, so as to reflect the universality of the Church. The other seven are experts of various nationalities, with financial expertise and recognized professional credentials.
Erdő (68) has doctorates in theology and canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University and was the President of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe from 2006 to 2016, and was the Relator General for the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Besides his native Hungarian, he is also fluent in Italian, French and Latin.
The new appointments to the economic council are also seen as part of the Vatican’s drive to reduce gender imbalance. Six of the new lay members of the council are women, including Ruth Mary Kelly from the United Kingdom, who served as Secretary of State for Education in the 2004-2008 Labour government.
Title image: Pope Francis celebrates Mass during the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Monday, June 29, 2020. Francis also blessed the Pallia for the metropolitan archbishops appointed during the year. (Angelo Carconi/Pool Photo via AP)
