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.).
Just last week, Cardinal Dolan joined us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the canonization of our Foundress, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Elizabeth’s legacy is not one of exclusion or hatred, but of radical welcome, tireless service, and unwavering love of neighbor. Many of Mr. Kirk’s words stand in stark contrast to the charity and compassion that defined those of Elizabeth Seton.
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