Archbishop Bugnini's successor named

Surely, Archbishop Marini, his pupil and outgoing Master of Ceremonies was considered for the job until it was discovered that he had no diplomatic experience. But there again neither did Bugnini.

Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Jean-Paul Gobel as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Iran.

Archbishop Gobel, 64, will leave his current position as the Apostolic Nuncio in Nicaragua to assume the new post, the Vatican press office announced today.

Jean-Paul Gobel was born in Thonon, France, and ordained a priest in 1969.

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1974, and served as apostolic nuncio in Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Senegal and Cape Verde before being appointed to Nicaragua in 2001.

He replaces Archbishop Angelo Mottola, who was named apostolic nuncio to Montenegro in January.

By way of background, a recollection of the evil Archbishop Bugnini who for some scandalous reason, shrouded in mystery was suddenly sent to Iran as Nuncio.

Known as the liturgist from hell, to where he might well have returned

With the twentieth anniversary of the Constitution on the Liturgy before us next December, we recall with gratitude the life of Archbishop Annibale Bugnini, who died suddenly in Rome last July after minor surgery. Born near Orvieto in 1912, he entered the Lazarists, was ordained priest in 1936, and then devoted almost the whole of his career to reform of the liturgy. At the time of his death he was serving as apostolic pro-nuncio to Iran. He held this position under both the Shah and the revolutionary regime, which witnesses to his skills as diplomat and peacemaker. His willingness to continue this difficult work despite his own desire to return to pastoral ministry in his native Umbria was characteristic of his responsiveness to the needs of the church.

He is best known to readers of Worship for his work in liturgical renewal and reform. In his almost twenty years as editor in chief of Ephemerides Liturgicae (from 1944), he set a high standard of scientific scholarship. From 1948 until 1975, he served on a number of Roman commissions for liturgical renewal, first as secretary of the commission which instituted the reforms of the Easter Vigil (1951), Holy Week (1955), and the code of rubrics (1960). He helped to establish the last editiones typicae of the preconciliar missal, breviary, and pontifical (1962). In 1960 he was also named secretary of the commission deputed to prepare for the further liturgical reform expected from the recently announced Second Vatican Council. Instrumental in securing the development and adoption of the Constitution on the Liturgy, he served as secretary of both the conciliar liturgical commission and the postconciliar Consilium. With the creation of the Congregation for Divine Worship in 1972 he was made secretary and named titular Archbishop of Diocletianum. He served the Congregation until 1975.

The knowledge and great tact required to help prepare and implement the liturgical reforms since 1948 are obvious. Insight, courage, and patience, guided by a deep pastoral sense and avoidance of either reactionary or unrealistically progressive positions, enabled him to provide steady leadership for the official development of the revised rites. His willingness to help institute policies with which he may personally have disagreed commands our respect. 

Despite the inevitable discontent with the progress of reform, whether the complaint be of too great or too little action, all sense that without Bugnini things could have been far worse. (Cathcon presently grasping for my breath)

His legacy to us is his example of consistent devotion to understanding and renewing the church’s life of prayer.

Columba Steward OSB