At the beginning of 2012, Benedict XVI will have to decide on a key-appointment for his pontificate: a Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the most delicate department head of the Roman Curia, a task Ratzinger held for 24 years before being elected Pope.
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Levada has turned 75 years, the canonical age for resignation, last June. As was the case for other department heads, an extension would have been natural, but the Cardinal would have made it known that he does not wish to continue remain in the position beyond the end of 2011, when on December 20th he will celebrate his 50 years of priesthood.
The selection of his successor is not easy. The Congregation for the Doctrine is a crucial-one and we must not forget that in recent years it has become even more so, for management of cases of sexual abuse involving some clerics. Under the responsibility of the former Holy Office, as a result of the recent reform desired by Benedict XVI, also fall other hot topics: the relationship with the Society of Saint Pius X founded by Archbishop Lefebvre, as well as that of ordinary Anglicans who wish to back into communion with Rome.
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