An apostolic letter which tweaked the role of the dean of the College of Cardinals was one of two moves at the end of 2019 which made it clear to Vatican watchers that Francis is thinking seriously about the papal succession.
The other was the Pope’s decision to bring Cardinal Tagle from Manila to Rome, to lead at the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (see pages 16-17).
The reason that changes to the dean’s role made observers think of the succession was that the dean’s official power is principally exercised during a papal transition, especially by his presiding over the general congregations – daily meetings of the cardinals during a papal vacancy – and setting the date on which the conclave begins.
