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This morning, at the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience Her Excellency Mrs. Patricia Leonor Comandari Zanotti, Ambassador of El Salvador to the Holy See, on the occasion of the presentation of her Letters of Credence.

The essential biographical information of the new Ambassador is provided below:

Her Excellency Mrs. Patricia Leonor Comandari Zanotti 

Ambassador of El Salvador to the Holy See

Mrs. Patricia Leonor Comandari Zanotti earned a Bachelor's Degree in Literature from the José Simeón Cañas Central American University (1986), a Master's Degree in Mass Communication from the University of Florida (1991), and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Latin American Theology at the José Simeón Cañas Central American University.

Among other positions, she has held the following: Director General of the Foreign Service (2002–2005, 2014, 2019–2020); Minister Counsellor to the Sovereign Order of Malta in Rome (2005–2010); Consul General in Spain (2010–2013); Minister Counsellor in the United Kingdom (2016); Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Integration and Economic Promotion (2020–2021); and Adviser for Institutional Strengthening in the Ministerial Office of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of El Salvador (2021–2022).

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- H.E. Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, Archbishop Emeritus of Caracas (Venezuela), together with H.E. Cardinal Diego Rafael Padrón Sánchez;

- H.E. Mrs. Patricia Leonor Comandari Zanotti, Ambassador of El Salvador, on the occasion of the presentation of her Letters of Credence;

- H.E. Cardinal Vicente Bokalic Iglic, C.M., Archbishop of Santiago del Estero (Argentina);

- Sister Simona Brambilla, M.C., Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, together with H.E. Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, S.D.B., Pro-Prefect, and Sister Tiziana Merletti, S.F.P., Secretary of the same Dicastery;

- H.E. Mr. Bruno van der Pluijm, Ambassador of Belgium, on a farewell visit;

- H.E. Mr. Hendy Anak Assan, Ambassador of Malaysia, on a farewell visit;

- H.E. Mrs. Frances Collins, Ambassador of Ireland, on a farewell visit;

- H.E. Mr. Raphael Perpetuo Mercado Lotilla, Ambassador of the Philippines, on the occasion of the presentation of his Letters of Credence;

- H.E. Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.

Appointment of the Prefect, Pro-Prefect, and Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

Appointment of the Secretary of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts

Appointment of the Secretary and Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity

Appointment of Members and Consultors of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches

Resignation of the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia

Appointment of the Apostolic Administrator sede plena et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of Northampton (England)

Appointment of the Prefect, Pro-Prefect, and Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed the Reverend Sister Alessandra Smerilli, F.M.A., who was serving until now as Secretary of the same Dicastery, as Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The Reverend Sister Smerilli will take office on 1 September 2026.

The Holy Father has also appointed His Eminence Cardinal Fabio Baggio, C.S., currently Under-Secretary of the same Dicastery, as Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, with special responsibility for the Laudato Si' Higher Education Center. Cardinal Baggio will take office on 1 September 2026.

Furthermore, the Roman Pontiff has appointed Msgr Jozef Barlaš, who is currently serving as Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, as Secretary of the same Dicastery. Monsignor Barlaš will take office on 1 September 2026.

Appointment of the Secretary of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts

The Holy Father has appointed Monsignor Marco Mellino, currently Adjunct Secretary of the same Dicastery, as Secretary of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts.

Appointment of the Secretary and Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Msgr Lucio Adrián Ruiz, who is currently serving as Secretary of the Dicastery for Communication, as Secretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity. Monsignor Ruiz will take office on 1 st September 2026.

The Holy Father has also appointed Dr. Massimo Ralli, currently an Official of the same Dicastery, as Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity. Dr. Ralli will take office on 1 September 2026.

Appointment of Members and Consultors of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches

The Holy Father has appointed the following as Members of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches the Cardinals: Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, Archbishop of Osaka-Takamatsu (Japan); Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo); Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille (France); Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto (Canada). The Msgrs: Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of Lagos (Nigeria); Angelo Vincenzo Zani, Archivist and Librarian Emeritus of the Holy Roman Church; Paolo Giulietti, Archbishop of Lucca (Italy); Andrew Nkea Fuanya, Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon); Peter Soon-Taick Chung, O.C.D., Archbishop of Seoul (South Korea); Michel Jalakh, O.A.M., Secretary of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches; Paulus Budi Kleden, S.V.D., Archbishop of Ende (Indonesia); Oscar Roberto Domínguez Couttolenc, M.G., Archbishop of Tulancingo (Mexico); Elias Frank, Archbishop of Calcutta (India); Daniel Ernest Flores, Bishop of Brownsville (United States of America); Lisandro Alirio Rivas Durán, I.M.C., Bishop of San Cristóbal de Venezuela; Msgr. Roger Joseph Landry, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States of America; Rev. Father Francesco Rapacioli, Superior General of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME).

The Holy Father has appointed the following as Consultors of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches: Msgr. Davide Carbonaro, O.M.D., Archbishop of Potenza-Muro Lucano-Marsico Nuovo (Italy); François Sylla, Archbishop of Conakry (Guinea); Monsignor Remigio Bellizio, Director of the Domus Missionalis in Rome (Italy); the Rev. Father Joseph Koonamparampil, C.M.F., former Official of the former Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and Father Wenceslaus C. Madu, C.M.F., Vice Chancellor of the Claretian University of Nigeria in Nekede.

Resignation of the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of H.E. Charles Daniel Balvo, Titular Archbishop of Castello, from his office as Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, having reached the last age limit.

Appointment of the Apostolic Administrator sede plena et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of Northampton (England)

The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Charles Phillip Richard Moth, Metropolitan Archbishop of Westminster, as Apostolic Administrator sede plena et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Diocese of Northampton (England).

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- His Beatitude Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians;

- A delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople;

- H.E. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Archbishop Emeritus of Genoa (Italy);

- His Beatitude Béchara Boutros Raï, O.M.M., Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites;

- H.E. Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangui (Central African Republic);

- Archbishop James R. Golka, Metropolitan Archbishop of Denver (United States of America);

- H.E. Cardinal Roberto Repole, Metropolitan Archbishop of Turin and Bishop of Susa (Italy).

 

Today, the Pope will also receive in audience:

- The students of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, at the conclusion of their missionary year.

The following is the text of the Letter that the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has sent to the Reverend Fr. Davide Pagliarani, Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X:

To The Reverend Davide Pagliarani Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X

With a paternal heart, and aware of the responsibility entrusted to me by the Lord as the Successor of the Apostle Peter, I address you and, through you, the bishops, priests, seminarians and faithful connected to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X.

The Church recognizes the devotion to liturgical life, commitment to priestly formation, apostolic zeal and desire for fidelity to Tradition that characterize many people and communities connected to your Fraternity. This has motivated the attentive and generous attitude that my Predecessors have consistently shown to you.

In this spirit, and filled with Christian affection, I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back! I urge you to consider carefully the spiritual good of the faithful, because the schismatic act you are about to undertake would deprive them of the licit and, in some cases, even valid reception of the Sacraments, which they love and seek for their sanctification.

The Church is open to a path of dialogue and understanding that the Holy Spirit can make possible and fruitful.

I pray for you, because to tear the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity. May the Lord enlighten your consciences and awaken your hearts. With a sorrowful yet hopeful heart, I feel it is my duty, through the authority received from Christ, to ask you to desist from your intended act. I entrust these intentions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Good Counsel.

 

From the Vatican, 29 June 2026

Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

 

LEO PP. XIV