The only thing the two geniuses of Vatican communications, Andrea Tornielli and the man Tornielli brought over with him from La Stampa, according to that well-known system of promotions and appointments inside the Vatican walls, managed to write is that the Pope has appointed the first female prefect of the Holy See.
No serious look at her expertise, her curriculum vitae, her studies, the battles she has fought, or her professionalism. Just one fact: she is a woman. As though the Pontiff had chosen her because of her gender rather than her competence.
This is the level of the communications apparatus which for years has presumed to narrate the universal Church. These are the communicators who should follow Paolo Ruffini as soon as possible.
All the more so because, having called in a woman from outside to lead the Dicastery, the new Prefect will now find herself facing extremely heavy resistance, especially from the female contingent inside Palazzo Pio. A contingent which, over these years, has already shown its ferocity. Among the many examples, it would be enough to recall what used to happen between Murray and Armenti. For Maria Montserrat Alvarado, therefore, what lies ahead is an underground but extremely hard-fought war, one which will probably begin from the very first day.
At the forefront is Nataša Govekar, who arrived at Palazzo Pio thanks to Marko Ivan Rupnik and has remained untouchable throughout all these years, despite her evident responsibilities and despite her stubborn defence of Rupnik even in the face of facts which are now impossible to ignore. To protect her and Rupnik, Paolo Ruffini ended up collecting gaffes even in front of journalists. If the Pope does not want to make Maria Montserrat Alvarado’s life impossible, Andrea Tornielli, Matteo Bruni, Andrea Monda, Nataša Govekar, Massimiliano Menichetti and Salvatore Cernuzio must leave the Dicastery before 2027. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for anything truly to change.
fr.E.V.
Silere non possum