Jose Rodriguez Carballo (59), Minister General of the Franciscan Order, has been appointed by Pope Francis, secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for Religious. As the Vatican announced this on Saturday, the Pope raised the Spanish friar to the rank of Archbishop.

As secretary Rodriguez Carballo’s Curial authority is second only to the Prefect, the Brazilian Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz. Rodriguez and the Pope also know eachother very well personally. The Franciscan is successor toy the American Joseph William Tobin, who Benedict XVI in October appointed Archbishop of Indianapolis . The appointment Carballos Rodriguez is the first Curial appointment of the new pope, having previously confirmed as is customary all heads of Curia authorities in their offices (Cathcon- but delayed this annoucement in contrast to his predecessors)