Ghirlanda Succeeds Cardinal Burke

Francis has appointed Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, 81, SJ, as patron of the formerly sovereign and now emasculated Order of Malta. The post had been held by Cardinal Raymond Burke, 74, since 2014. But Francis de facto sacked him in 2017, handing over the job to a “special delegate,” first Cardinal Becciu and then Cardinal Tomasi. The latter is a confidant of Cardinal Parolin and is seen as the liquidator of Burke and Fra’ Festing in the order.

Picture: Raymond Burke, © Joseph Shaw, CC BY-NC-SA, #newsGktuzvpxnn