On his first day as Substitute for General Affairs, 58 year-old Venezuelan Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, was presented to the Secretariat of State by His Holiness Pope Francis himself, accompanied by Cardinal Parolin. His Excellency Archbishop Peña Parra took up his new post as Substitute for General Affairs (First Section) of the Secretariat of State. Appointed by his Holiness Pope Francis on 15 August, he succeeds His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was recently named Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
His Holiness Pope Francis, accompanied by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, presented the prelate to the staff of the three Sections of the Vatican Dicastery, represented by their respective superiors, in the Library of the Secretariat of State.
The Substitute leads the first Section of the Secretariat of State, which “is especially responsible,”—according to the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus— for expediting “the business concerning the daily service” of the Pope; for fostering relations with the various departments of the Roman Curia, “without prejudice to their autonomy”; and for coordinating their work. General Affairs has many other responsibilities, including that of organizing the Pope’s Apostolic Journeys
