Summary
Pope Leo XIV of the Catholic Church has appointed Bishop Eric Varden, a Trappist from Norway, as the preacher for this year’s Lenten Spiritual Exercises to be held in the Pauline Chapel at the Apostolic Palace. This choice is seen as significant given Pope Francis’s pattern of appointing friars or priests who integrate tradition with contemporary issues. Bishop Varden comes from a Lutheran background but converted to Catholicism at age fifteen, showing his strong personal piety and connection to Church tradition. The appointment was made in contrast to previous years’ locations for the exercises, including the Redemptoris Mater chapel which is currently decorated by controversial artist Fr. Marko Rupnik. The choice of Bishop Varden could be seen as a reassuring sign amidst concerns about the potential for another Francis-like progressive leadership. Additionally, there are three new appointments in recent weeks: Sister Raffaella Petrini, the president of Vatican City State, joined the Commission for Confidential Matters, which has caused some controversy given the Catholic Church’s stance on women in positions of authority.
Key Topics
Vatican City, Trappist bishop, Pauline Chapel
