The fine Italian language blog Rinascimento Sacro has an interesting post (my translation).
Canizares: either Ranjith or a Benedictine
Andrea TornielliThe illness of the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, Card. Canizares, now well overcome, caused the delay of the publication of the appointment of the Secretary of the same Congregation, Sri Lankan Archbishop Malcom Ranjith Patabendige Don as Archbishop of Colombo, now decided for some time. There are those who speak of days or weeks, even some months. Certainly there is an arm wrestling context about the appointment of the new Secretary, given the key role which this dicastery has in advancing the reconciliation on the "battlefield" of the liturgy and in seeking to implement the "reform of the reform" long desired for many years ago by then-Cardinal Ratzinger. Canizares, the ex-Archbishop of Toledo, nicknamed "little Ratzinger", would want Ranjith to still remain in Rome. In the probable case that he is not able to keep him, he would want as his number two a collaborator which continues along the same line. The only certainty is that he would be an anglophone. But at the moment it is useless to forward names (and there are some), because the situation is in continuous evolution.
I have been in contact with a few of my spies.
I think what is going on here is that Archbp. Ranjith’s enemies have really started pushing to get rid of him by promoting him to the see of Colombo. However, Card. Canizares very much intends to advance the liturgical and ecclesiological vision of Pope Benedict. For that he needs to have the right Secretary, who will not fight him. Ranjith’s enemies want someone who will balance Card. Canizares (read: thwart).
I remember once in the office I worked in long ago, the Cardinal President, His Eminence Card. Mayer (now our oldest living Cardinal) was having a bit of a dispute with the Secretariat of State over an important point. Eventually it came to the point where Card. Mayer suggested that if it was his own person which was the obstacle, he would be happy to step down and let his position be filled by someone else. They really didn’t want that, for it would put the Holy Father is a tough position: he would have to fill that highly controversial chair at a difficult time.
It strikes me that something of that same struggle is going on here. The enemies of the Pope’s agenda have a strong hand, but so does Card. Canizares. However, choosing a new Secretary of the CDWDS is far less problematic for the Holy Father than choosing a new Prefect to replace someone who has just been in office for a few months.
The thing which makes me pause a little is that opening to an alternative, a "benedettiano"… a "Benedictine", not in the sense of a Benedictine monk, but someone who is in on Pope Benedict’s team.
It is too early to forward names.
I could make some suggestions!
Should it come to pass that Archbp. Ranjith is moved to Colombo, I will wager that the new man would also be not only sympathetic the older liturgy.
My random thoughts:
The Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" is going to be more closely associate with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The reason for this is clear: there will need to be doctrinal talks with the SSPX and the PCED is still the competent dicastery. However, the liturgical oversight exercised by the PCED will have to go to the CDWDS someday. There will have to be desk at the Congregation which resolves liturgical questions. There must be some folks in the Congregation competent to handle these questions (…actually, there are now!). Archbp. Ranjith fills that bill at this time. If he moves, the new man will have to have some liturgical competence.
So… an anglophone, an English speaker… in harmony with Benedict XVI’s liturgy and ecclesiological vision for the Church… of good reputation and/or record of scholarship… friendly to (if not also versed in) the older form of Mass….
Too early for names, but we should keep watching for small signs.
