VATICAN (CNS): Father Juan Antonio Guerrero, general counselor for the Society of Jesus, was named by Pope Francis to head the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy it was announced November 14.
The Spanish Jesuit, who has a background in economics, takes over from George Cardinal Pell who took a leave of absence in 2017 and returned to Australia to face charges of sexually abusing minors. His five-year term as head of the secretariat expired in February, a few months after a jury found him guilty of the charges.
Born in Merida, Spain, in 1959, the newly appointed prefect entered the Jesuit order at the age of 20 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1992. He holds degrees in economics, philosophy and theology.
Father Guerrero, who has served in various Jesuit missions in his native Spain and abroad, including as treasurer of the Society of Jesus in Mozambique, will take over as prefect in January, the Vatican said.
In an interview with Vatican News published shortly after the announcement, Father Guerrero said his appointment as prefect of the secretariat was “something completely unexpected.”
He said that initially he was filled with anxiety however, “I welcome it with humility, with confidence in the Lord and in the team that is already working in the Secretariat for the Economy. I will collaborate in the service of this mission by offering the best of myself.”
Jesuit Father Arturo Sosa, superior general of the Society of Jesus, said that when the pope requested Father Guerrero for the position, “I welcomed it with openness and availability.”’
However, according to Vatican News, Father Sosa requested that the appointment “not be associated with the episcopate”—in other words, that Father Guerrero not be ordained a bishop—so that he could return “after finishing his mission to his normal life as a Jesuit.”
Vatican News reported Father Guerrero as saying, “I thank the Holy Father for allowing me to carry out this mission as a Jesuit, so that I can continue to remain a Jesuit when this service ends.”
He said, “My desire is to get to know and to begin to work with the team at the Holy See’s Secretariat for the Economy,” he said. “I hope to contribute to the economic transparency of the Holy See and to help to use efficiently the goods and resources that are at the service of the important evangelising mission of the Church.”
