Pope Francis on Monday named an American-born missionary in Peru, Bishop Robert Francis Prevost, to take over the Vatican’s highly effective bishops’ workplace from the retiring Canadian who has not too long ago been accused of sexual misconduct.

Prevost, a Chicago native and former superior of his Augustinian order who started ministering in Peru within the Nineteen Eighties, takes over the vital Holy See workplace that helps vet bishop nominations across the globe and in addition investigates allegations of abuse or negligence in opposition to bishops.

The Dicastery for Bishops’ outgoing head, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, was one of many few Vatican prefects whom Francis saved on for years from the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI in a transparent signal of belief. At 78, Ouellet is three years previous the conventional retirement age for bishops and his successor has been the topic of rumors for months.

Currently, Ouellet has been embroiled in allegations of misconduct stemming from his time as archbishop of Quebec – allegations he strongly denied. After the Vatican shelved the case in opposition to him final 12 months on inadequate grounds to proceed, Ouellet sued his accuser in civil court docket in Canada for alleged defamation.

Prevost, 67, was head of the Augustinians from 2001-2013, based mostly in Rome. He additionally served as head of the Chicago province of the order and in 2014 was named apostolic administrator after which bishop of Chiclayo, in northern Peru in a area the place the Chicago Augustinians have lengthy had a presence.

Like Ouellet, Prevost may even head the Vatican’s Pontifical Fee for Latin America.

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