Can Pope Leo afford to keep Cardinals Fernández and Parolin in post if he wants to clean up the mess left by Francis?

The Castling of Leo XIV: Protecting Francis' Legacy and Securing the Board

"Because the atmosphere in the Roman Curia and in the various dicasteries is one of latent threat: the winds of restoration are blowing strongly, and the new Pope knows it."

"Pope Leo will be judged above all by the names he chooses for his trusted Curial team."

"At this moment, the key figure, the bishop who can tip the game, is the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Víctor Manuel "Tucho" Fernández, who represents the ideological and theological heart of the reformist project promoted by Francis."

"How long will Leo XIV keep the Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin, and his replacement, Peña Parra, in their posts?"

On the Vatican chessboard, where every move is closely watched and each piece has a specific weight in the balance of the Church, Leo XIV has opted for castling. A strategic, almost textbook castling, in which exchanging pieces, protecting the king, and ensuring Francis' legacy become the absolute priority.

Because the atmosphere in the Roman Curia and the various dicasteries is one of latent threat: the winds of restoration are blowing strongly, and the new Pope knows it. Therefore, before moving forward, we must ensure what we have and that Francis's quarry remains open and setting the course.

Castling, in chess, is the defensive move par excellence: you exchange pieces, protect the king, and reinforce your own positions before launching an attack. And that is what Leo XIV is doing in these early stages of his pontificate. He is playing defense, yes, but with an eye to the future, to progress, to developing a strategy that will consolidate and advance Francis's legacy, especially the synodal process, which, like Bergoglio, he envisioned, could materialize and culminate in the great synodal assembly of 2028.

The cornerstone of this castling is none other than the trusted team he chooses for the Curia. Because, in Rome, people are everything. Structures count, but they are already functioning in the style established by Francis. Pope Leo will be judged above all by the names he chooses for his trusted curial team.

And, at this moment, the key figure, the bishop who can tip the game, is the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Víctor Manuel "Tucho" Fernández, who represents the ideological and theological heart of the reformist project promoted by Francis.

The Argentine theologian, a close collaborator of Francis, has revolutionized the most sensitive Dicastery in just two years, presenting documents on blessings, human dignity, and burning issues that have generated both enthusiasm and controversy among the most fundamentalist sectors.

Prevost knows this, and that's why he received Cardinal Fernández twice during the first ten days of his pontificate. And today, he received him for the third time. According to our sources, in the various audiences, the Argentine cardinal answered yes to the Pope's question about whether he could count on him, and Leo XIV confirmed him as head of the Doctrine of the Faith.

The continuity or replacement of 'Tucho' will set the tone for the new era: if Leo XIV keeps him, it will be an unequivocal sign of continuity and protection of Bergoglian legacy; if he replaces him, the most conservative sectors will see the door open to a restoration.

And if, in a few months, he changes him, it would be to send him to the Bishops or another Vatican Congregation of similar stature. Any other change would mean making him pay the "political cost" of having been a faithful friend of Francis and his doctrinal spring. But, for now, he remains in the Doctrine of the Faith. And with full powers.

Keeping Fernández in his post is, therefore, a way to protect Francis' legacy from the more conservative sectors seeking a reversal of the reforms.

In this context of "castling," Fernández acts as a cornerstone to secure the doctrinal flank, resist restorationist pressures, and buy time for Leo XIV to consolidate his own team and strategy. His profile as a dialoguing theologian and his closeness to the previous Pope make him a shield against possible attempts at regression and a guarantor of continuity in the essentials.

Secondly, there is the question of the Prefect of Consecrated Life, Sister Brambilla. Her permanence or departure will be key to the future of female religious life and the implementation of reforms in institutes and congregations. It seems that Leo XIV plans to keep her in her post. However, in the castling move, the Pro-Prefect of this same Dicastery, the Spaniard Ángel Fernández Artime, could leave for another congregation.

Brambilla and Artime

Thirdly, the election of the prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops (a position of highest papal trust, held by Cardinal Prevost himself) will determine the policy of episcopal appointments, the most faithful indicator of the pastoral direction of the pontificate.

No less important will be the continuity or replacement of the current head of the Clergy, the Korean Cardinal Lazzaro You, especially at a time when Opus Dei and other ecclesial entities are in the spotlight, and the handling of these cases could affect relations with influential sectors of the Church.

Finally, the big question: how long will Leo XIV keep Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State, and his replacement Peña Parra, in their positions? On the one hand, it seems that, during the conclave, when Parolin saw that his votes had reached their ceiling, he immediately added them to Prevost's candidacy. Was this in exchange for his continued position as Secretary of State?

On the other hand, it is clear that Cardinal Prevost had to endure (without any official defense from the apparatus) a media offensive that began a few months before the Conclave, in which the Sodalitium and, later, Infovaticana and the US MAGA news outlets accused him of covering up abuse. Religion Digital was the only media outlet that publicly defended him, while the Holy See Press Office, which reports to the Secretariat of State, headed by Parolin, remained completely silent.

Cathcon:  It is a bit more complicated than this.  It is not all part of a vast right-wing conspiracy. 

Pope and Secretariat of State

Leo XIV, like a good chess player, knows that castling is not a move of weakness, but of intelligence. It secures the flank, protects the king, and prepares the ground for, when the time comes, an attack. But, in the meantime, the message is clear: secure what you have, because it is under threat. And, in Rome, the best defense has always been a good choice of people. Because, in the end, it is the pieces—and not just the strategies—that decide the game.

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