Vatican - Pope Francis, on Thursday, made the announcement of Father Antonio Spadaro's appointment as the undersecretary for the Dicastery for Culture and Education, a role that the Jesuit priest will assume after more than a decade at the helm of a prominent Catholic journal in Rome. The Vatican, in its announcement, specified that Spadaro will officially take up his new position on January 1, 2024. For the past 12 years, he had served as the editor of the Jesuit-operated La Civiltà Cattolica.

Widely recognized as 'the pope's mouthpiece' due to his consistent and outspoken defense of the Holy Father, Spadaro had earlier in the day disclosed his departure from La Civiltà. He attributed this decision to his 'Jesuit superiors' and noted that it had been 'agreed upon one year ago.'

During his tenure as editor, the priest occasionally sparked controversy, such as his co-authorship of a 2017 article that critiqued what it referred to as 'value voters' in the United States, accusing them of propagating an 'ecumenism of hate.'

The Dicastery for Culture and Education was established last year through the consolidation of two other Vatican departments, namely the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Congregation for Catholic Education.

According to the Vatican, the cultural division of the dicastery is 'dedicated to the promotion of culture, pastoral activities, and the preservation of cultural heritage.' Meanwhile, the educational branch collaborates on a global scale with bishops and Church authorities to ensure that 'the fundamental principles of education, especially Catholic education, are embraced and comprehended, allowing for contextual and cultural implementation.'

The dicastery as a whole, as stated by the Holy See, 'works towards the development of human values in the context of Christian anthropology, contributing to the full realization of Christian discipleship.'

The Italian-born priest expressed his reflections on his time at the magazine, describing it as 'a challenging responsibility that I have embraced with enthusiasm since 2011.' He conveyed gratitude to the Jesuit leaders and contributors who 'have played an instrumental role in establishing an international magazine network.' He praised them as 'a sturdy foundation for the future.'

The Vatican's announcement highlighted that Spadaro had previously been a 'consultor' for the dicastery and held the status of 'an ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al Pantheon.'

In his resignation statement, Spadaro indicated his readiness to step away from his long-held position at the magazine, stating, 'Twelve years is the ideal period to give your best without repeating yourself'.