At the Vatican, Too, Personnel Is Policy, by Phil Lawler

By Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture, Aug 14, 2025

Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org.  See full bio.

Summers are usually quiet around the Vatican. Most officials of the Roman Curia—like most other residents of Rome—leave the city for cooler vacation spots, leaving important policy decisions until the fall. This year, with a new Pontiff settling into his work, and the Catholic world anxiously waiting for indications of his plans, things seem even quieter than usual.

But the summer days are already dwindling, the sun is setting earlier, and fall will soon be upon us. Rather than trying to read deep meanings into small papal gestures, and anticipate what Pope Leo could do, we might consider the questions that will certainly confront him in September.

To date Pope Leo has played his cards close to his vestments, giving only occasional hints (sometimes contradictory) about what sort of initiatives he has in mind. ….

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