Bishops in the European Union have gone from having a reform-minded cardinal and ally of Pope Francis as their head to electing a little-known Italian bishop once effectively demoted by Pope Francis.
As prominent Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ came to the end of his five-year stint heading their Brussels-based association Comece, they chose Bishop Mariano Crociata of the Diocese of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno to replace him.
Crociata, 70, was secretary-general of the Italian bishops conference (CEI) from 2008 to 2013, when the newly-elected Pope, instead of promoting him to an archdiocese as expected, unexpectedly sent him to the small diocese between Rome and Naples.
The move was seen at the time as Pope Francis making way for his own team at the CEI. It may not have helped that Crociata signed the mistaken CEI email congratulating the more conservative Cardinal Angelo Scola for winning the conclave rather than Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio.
Crociata was one of three vice-presidents of Comece before his election, so he has experience with the group meant to lobby EU politicians. Some observers saw his election as reflecting a growing influence of conservative prelates in eastern and northern Europe.
In an address to a Comece spring plenary in Rome, Pope Francis said the association was built on the twin dreams of unity and peace in Europe.
The war in Ukraine had “shaken the European peace”, he added, and urged the bishops to show “creativity to advance the cause of peace”.
La Croix said Bishop Crociata appeared “perplexed” when asked what COMECE could do for peace in Ukraine.
“Not much, alas,” the French paper quoted him as saying.
The Pope began his address praising Cardinal Hollerich – “He never stops! He never stops!” – but failed to mention Bishop Crociata by name.
The Luxembourg Jesuit is also relator-general for the next Synod of Bishops and a newly-appointed member of the Council of Cardinals.
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