Catholic World News

Profile of Vatican official who resigned amid criticisms

September 03, 2010

Vatican-watcher John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter offers a sympathetic profile of Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, the outspoken Vatican official who resigned this week from his post as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants.

Archbishop Marchetto was known for speaking plainly, Allen observed, and at different times his statement irked both liberal and conservative Catholics. He was once known for rejecting liberal interpretations of Vatican II; more recently he drew criticism for his strong objections to the French drive against Gypsy immigrants. (Allen notes that he was popularly known as “the Gypsy Bishop.”)

Archbishop Marchetto—who has lived with health problems for years-- had been planning to retire. But the announcement of his retirement this week showed signs of haste, and came soon after his sharp criticism of the French government.

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