POPE LEO REMOVES ARCHBISHOP AS HEAD OF POPE JOHN PAUL II INSTITUTE, REPLACES HIM WITH A CARDINAL

POPE LEO REMOVES ARCHBISHOP AS HEAD OF POPE JOHN PAUL II INSTITUTE, REPLACES HIM WITH A CARDINAL

A seismic shift has taken place at the heart of the Catholic Church’s theological landscape as Pope Leo XIV has dismissed Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia from his role as Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences, replacing him with Cardinal Baldassare Reina, a figure seen by many as more aligned with traditional Church teaching.

The Holy See announced the decision on May 20, 2025, marking one of the most significant appointments yet under Leo XIV’s papacy.

Paglia, who turned 80 this month, was long considered a controversial figure, particularly among conservative Catholics.

He was a central player in the dramatic overhaul of the Institute under Pope Francis in 2019 — a move that saw the removal of its previous president, Monsignor Livio Melina, and a purge of faculty aligned with traditional moral theology.

The restructuring drew global criticism, especially after it was revealed that newly appointed faculty promoted views on homosexuality, contraception, and assisted suicide that diverged sharply from the Institute’s original founding principles.

Over the years, Paglia courted further controversy by publicly defending the legalization of assisted suicide, supporting the use of contraception, and attacking Catholics who resisted vaccines developed using aborted fetal cell lines. His tenure became a lightning rod in debates about the moral direction of the Church’s teaching on life and family.

The appointment of Cardinal Baldassare Reina, who was elevated to the College of Cardinals in December 2024, is being widely interpreted as a reset. Reina, currently serving as Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, is known for his orthodox pro-life stances and pastoral dedication to family values — credentials that resonate with the original mission of the John Paul II Institute.

Conservative theologians and pro-life groups have welcomed the decision as a “restoration of moral clarity.” One Vatican insider described the change as “the beginning of a course correction,” signaling Pope Leo XIV’s intent to recalibrate the balance between pastoral outreach and doctrinal fidelity in Church institutions.

“This move brings hope back to the pro-life and pro-family movement within the Church,” said a senior lecturer at the Angelicum University in Rome.

Despite being removed as Grand Chancellor, Paglia remains President of the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAV) — another body mired in controversy over its recent direction under Francis-era appointees. Meanwhile, Monsignor Philippe Bordeyne, whose progressive views have also stirred unease, remains president of the Institute for now.

As debate swirls within the global Catholic community, Cardinal Reina’s appointment signals a fresh chapter for the John Paul II Institute — one that may yet restore confidence among those who have long felt alienated by its transformation over the past six years.