Midas Touch in Reverse: Another Rising Francis Star Falls

Father Luigi Epicoco, 42, whom Francis began promoting when he offered one of his books as a Christmas gift to the Roman Curia in 2019, is on his way out, writes MessaInLatino.it (February 7).

Epicoco is known for his lightweight theological books. Despite a strong opposition including from two cardinals who knew Epicoco well, Francis appointed him in June 2021 as ecclesiastical assistant of the Dicastery for Communication and a columnist for the Osservatore Romano.

In December 2021, Francis presented the Roman Curia with a book by Bishop Armando Matteo, the newly appointed adjunct undersecretary of the Congregation for Faith, to which he added a "beautiful text" by Epicoco. Mateo and Epicoco are friends.

Then came the turning point. In January, Curia cardinals met to discuss Epicoco who shortly afterwards returned all his Vatican appointments. He will also give up his chair of philosophy at the Lateran University.

Picture: Luigi Epicoco © wikipedia, CC BY-SA, #newsRpxdmwzbsc