The Holy Father, on Tuesday 25 May 2021, chose new leadership for the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Pope Francis appointed a new Prefect, Secretary, and Under-Secretary of the Congregation, according to the Holy See Press Office.
Archbishop Arthur Roche, previously its Secretary, will take on the role of Prefect.
Bishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, O.F.M., until now Bishop of Tortona, becomes the Secretary, while the Pope also conferred on him the title Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Tortona.
Monsignor Aurelio García Marcías, who previously served as Office Manager at the Congregation, will now become its Under-Secretary. The Pope also assigned him the titular See of Rotdon.
Archbishop Arthur Roche, 71, served as the tenth Bishop of Leeds from 2004 to 2012.
Archbishop Roche was born in Batley Carr, Yorkshire, England, on March 6, 1950. H was ordained to the priesthood on July 19, 1975, by Bishop William Gordon Wheeler. He was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor on May 10, 2001. He was appointed Co-adjutor Bishop of Leeds with Right of Succession on 16th July 2002. Upon Bishop Konstant’s retirement on April 7, 2004, he became the ninth Bishop of Leeds.
Archbishop Roche was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments on June 26, 2012, and raised to Archbishop, with the title Archbishop, Bishop Emeritus of Leeds.
On 26 June 2012, Archbishop Roche was appointed Secretary for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He served in the role for almost nine years prior to his appointment as Prefect.
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments was established by Pope Saint John Paul II (1978-2005) on June 2, 1988, with the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus on the reorganization of the Roman Curia.
The Dicastery is the competent body for all liturgical questions of the Latin Church and for everything that pertains to the Apostolic See regarding the promotion and regulation of the Liturgy and, in the first place, of the Sacraments (cf. Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, art. 62). It is always up to the Congregation to promote the liturgical pastoral action, also and above all for everything concerning the preparation and celebration of the Eucharist, the other sacraments and sacraments (cf. Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, art. 64), the celebration Sunday together with the other feasts of the liturgical year and the Liturgy of the Hours.
