Last week Pope Francis finally filled an important Vatican post that has remained vacant since June 2017. The Holy Father named Fr Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves as the new prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy. The Spanish priest succeeded Cardinal George Pell, who took leave of absence two years ago to face abuse charges in Australia.
The appointment is notable for two reasons. First, Fr Guerrero is a low-profile figure compared with Cardinal Pell. Second, he is a Jesuit. Some commentators on social media claimed that his nomination was a sign that the Society of Jesus, under the first Jesuit pope, is now exercising unprecedented influence. Is this true?
