ANALYSIS: What does the appointment of Archbishop Iannone mean to the Church by Pope Leo XIV?

Pope Leo XIV’s first gesture is somewhat surprising. However, it could also point out a step forward for synodality in general, and for the German Synodal road in particular.

Archbishop Filippo Iannone, chosen by León to succeed him as a prefect of the Dicastery for the bishops, was part of the team that – along with the cardinals Pietro Parolin, Kurt Koch and Robert Prevost (now Pope Leo XIV) – held meetings with the German bishops in the Vatican on the synodal road in Germany.

Before entering a history, it is convenient to profile the Iannone archbishop. Renowned jurist, methodical and consistent in his thinking, served as prefect of Dicastery for legislative texts. Carmelita Since 1982, Iannone was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Naples in 2001, serving with Cardinal Michele Giordano, then Archbishop of Naples. At that time, he was the youngest bishop in Italy. He was subsequently appointed Deputy Manager (Deputy General Vicar) of the Diocese of Rome by Cardinal Agostino Vallini, Vicar General, who had also served in Naples.

While Cardinal Vallini worked as an assistant and vicar general of Cardinal Giordano in Naples from 1989 to 1999, also organizing the visit of San Juan Pablo II to the city, Iannone held key positions in the diocese: Judge and Judicial Vicevicer in the Diocesan Court, Episcopal Vicar for the Fourth Pastoral Zone and Vicar General.

His collaboration and friendship began in those years. Cardinal Vallini was subsequently appointed Bishop of Albanian, while Bishop Iannone became auxiliary bishop of Naples in 2001. In 2009, Bishop Iannone was appointed bishop of Sora-Aquino-Pontecorvo and remained there until 2012, when Benedict XVI appointed him vice-year-old.

Pope Francis appointed him Deputy Secretary of the Dicasterio for the legislative texts in 2017 and made it prefect of the same Dicastery in 2018.

Archbishop Iannone is doctrinally solid and reserved (some would say shy). Follow the guidelines with precision and it is not one of those who rush forward or retract their decisions.

Thus, Leo XIV chose a “soft” continuity for Dicastery, confirming the rest of the team: Archbishop Ilson Montanari as secretary and Mons. Ivan Kovač as Undersecretary. It was a surprising choice, given the talk that Archbishop Montanari had treated appointments directly with Pope Francis, overlooking Cardinal Prevost. But the choice reflects the character of the Pope, not inclined to great “distributions”, but rather to absorb divisions and crises.

In short, even if the secretary had taken freedoms under Pope Francis, he will not be able to do so under the Archbishop Iannone. At the same time, no one is awarded a new episcopal position to decide independently; There is no call promoted to be removed (“Promued to remove”).

But with the choice of Archbishop Iannone, Leo XIV also pointed out a clear direction. On the question of synodality, the Pope spoke extensively in an interview for the book Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the 21st Centuryby Elise Ann Allen. He described the synodality as “an attitude, an openness, a willingness to understand. This means that each member of the Church has a voice and a role to play, through prayer, reflection and a process. There are many ways in which this could occur, but only through dialogue and mutual respect.”

It is a setback for the German Synodal road, which after the election of Leo XIV saw the departure of four bishops.

However, the choice of Archbishop Iannone confirms the León approach. In periodic meetings in the Vatican between the German bishops and the leaders of Dicasteries from 2022 to 2024, Archbishop Iannone was part of a “dream team”With Cardinals Parolin, Koch, Prevost and Arthur Roche. He won recognition for his balance and his ability to manage tensions. On one occasion, L’Osservatore Romano published reports to clarify the positions of the Holy See.

At that time, Archbishop Iannone acted as a link between the various dicasteries. He provided the necessary legal materials, helped Cardinals Parolin and Koch better formulate their views for the debate, and managed to reconcile the desire of Pope Francis to show openness to the synodal process with the need to safeguard the doctrine.

As of October 15, when the Episcopal Nominations begins to manage, the Iannone archbishop must apply this approach to dialogue and firmness, taking advantage of both his experience and Bishop and his expertise as a canonist. The Dicastery passes from the hands of one canonist to another, which is in itself an important signal.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in the National Catholic Register.