There doesn’t seem to be all that much controversy around Leo XIV’s newly appointed Prefect for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for America Latina (which operates under the umbrella of the Dicastery for Bishops).
The only thing I can think of is that some time back, in his role at Legislative Texts, Iannone weighed in about fulfilling one’s Mass obligation for the Feast/Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception which fell on an Advent Sunday. In the Novus Ordo the liturgical day is bumped to Monday. In the Vetus Ordo it remains on Sunday. In these USA, Immaculate Conception is supposed to be a day of obligation. So, was the obligation bumped to Monday in the Novus Ordo? Confusion reigned. If I recall rightly, Archbp. Iannone responded to a dubium sent by Bp. Paprocki that the canon about Feasts of precept was clear and that there was an obligation. However, the Divine Worship stepped in and said that there was no obligation because in 2024 9 December was a Monday. And we can’t have people going to Mass two days in a row, right? Also, he once made comments that suggested that Francis got involved personally in the affair of the laicization of an Argentinian priest convicted of child abuse.
Who is this new Prefect?
Filippo Iannone, O. Carm. was born in Naples on December 13, 1957, he entered the Carmelites in 1976, professed solemn vows in 1980, and was ordained priest in 1982. After studies in theology, he earned a doctorate in utroque iure at the Pontifical Lateran University and was at the Roman Rota as avvocato rotale.
He had leadership rpoles in his Order (bursar, councilor, and head of the commission revising the Carmelite Constitutions). In the Archdiocese of Naples, he was defender of the bond, adjunct judicial vicar, episcopal vicar, and later vicar general. He also taught canon law in several institutions.
In 2001 Pope John Paul II named him Auxiliary Bishop of Naples. In 2009 Pope Benedict XVI made him Bishop of Sora-Aquino-Pontecorvo. In 2012 he was appointed Vicegerent of Rome with the personal rank of archbishop. Under Francis, he went to the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, becoming President in 2018, later retitled as Prefect. He supervised the reform of Book VI of the Code of Canon Law on penal sanctions.
In 2025 Pope Leo XIV appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
He is a canonist, like Leo, and a religious, like Leo, and has now has a role/connection to Latin America, like Leo. Like Leo was, he is now Prefect of Bishops.
In doing some searches about him, he seems to be a “law and order” type concerning canon law. The penal section of the Code was revised when he was Prefect at Legislative Texts. Noteworthy also was his work on clarifying matters of “spiritual abuse” as an abuse of power (think Rupnik, et al.).
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Remember that Legislative Texts was Francis’ least-used and most neglected dicastery. This isn’t just the appointment of someone similar to Leo, himself, but also a statement that bishops will now be decided by law and governed by the law. I hope it also signals an appointment of more canonist bishops.
I remember that Advent Sunday well. December 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
It made perfect sense at the 8:00 Diocesan TLM to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The homily was beautiful, connecting our Lady’s absolute purity at birth because she was to be the great Mother of God as part of God’s preparation for the coming Savior. As we prepared for the coming Christ, we thanked God for His pure Queen. It all pointed to preparation for Christ’ coming. Ah, the beautiful hymns, with a lit Advent candle and purple vestments to remind us of the season. The connection of Mary’s role in Advent was deeply felt.
But that’s not the end of it –
After Mass, I drove over to my regular Novus Ordo parish to sing in the choir. We did not recognize Our Lady that Sunday or the following day. There was not a required Feast of the Immaculate Conception. I asked and was told “Advent is more important than Our Lady”. (We would not HAVE Advent without the Immaculate Conception.)
I was so sad for our Mother. CatholicChurch v.2 ignored our Mother! Dec 8 was one of the holy days of obligation until 2024. Her birth was so important in times past, that everyone had to go to Mass. 2024 was a bonus for TLM communities because they a two-fer and didn’t have to go two different days.
Well, that sealed it for me. I stayed through Christmas and sang with the choir. January 1, I started going to the SSPX. If the Diocese did not respect or love Our Lady enough to make Monday an HDO, then, no. My eyes have been opened. That is my MOTHER you ignored her.
Today is an Ember day btw. It’s 6:00, gonna pray the Angelus and be quiet.
Our Lady pray for us.
Father,
You are talking about “laicization” of a priest convicted of child abuse.
I believe this is a bit a “1917 Code of canon law language”.
For the best, the 1983 Code has deliberately ignored this term for a priest as, whatever his terrible actions are or have been, he remains a priest.
Sacred ordination, once validly received, never becomes invalid as you know.
A cleric loses (upon request or by penal dismissal) his clerical state but never becomes again a lay person.
I believe the term “laicization” should only be used nowadays in common language for religious women or for religious men not ordained (c. 701).
Hilda , I knew personally two couples formally Ordained Priest and Nuns in full vows who left and married. Very very sad. It was such a scandal with the first couple that they had to agree to go to Canada and never return.
The second are relatives by marriage.(now deceased). He knew that once a Priest always a Priest. He knew that in a life and death situation he could hear a confession. The rest is beyond me
Our Lady under her title of the Immaculate Conception is the patron saint of the United States.
Churches around here had the Immaculate Conception celebrated last year, Monday or no Monday. And people came.