Pope Francis visited the headquarters of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican, a day after returning from his apostolic trip to Mongolia.
The Pontiff personally thanked the outgoing Prefect, Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer, “for his work and service over the years” in the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. He will be succeeded by the Argentine archbishop Mons. Víctor Manuel “Tucho” Fernández.
After the meeting, the Holy Father greeted the officials of the Dicastery, according to the Holy See Press Office.
On 1 July 2023, the Bishop of Rome appointed Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández, 61, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, one of the most important positions in the Holy See. The new Prefect will assume his functions in the middle of this month of September.
The Pope wanted to make a gesture of gratitude towards Cardinal Ladaria Ferrer, 79 years old, who has been at the head of the Dicastery since 2017, after succeeding Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly known as the Holy Office, is an institution with a long history in the Church and was created by Paul III in 1542. Over the years, it expanded its scope, addressing matters of faith, morals, and doctrine. Its internal structure was modified by Pope Francis in 2022.