The appointment resolves a leadership vacancy that had persisted since October 3, when the Pope transferred Cardinal Mauro Gambetti to the Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto without immediately naming a successor. Viola, a 61-year-old Franciscan from northern Italy, will oversee the daily administration of the basilica and preside over liturgies in the Pope’s absence. As President of the Fabric of St. Peter, he will also be responsible for the conservation, decorum, and internal discipline of the basilica complex, including the management of staff, pilgrims, and visitors.
Viola’s background is deeply rooted in liturgical scholarship and Franciscan ministry. Born in Biella, Italy, in 1965, he made his solemn profession in the Order of Friars Minor in 1991 and was ordained a priest in 1993. He holds a doctorate in sacred liturgy from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of Sant’Anselmo in Rome. For over twenty years, he served in Assisi, holding roles such as custodian of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli and guardian of the Santa Chiara friary. He was appointed Bishop of Tortona in 2014 before being called to Rome in May 2021 to serve as Secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship under Pope Francis.
His successor at the Dicastery, Bishop Aurelio García Macías, was born in Pollos, Spain, in 1965. Or ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Valladolid in 1992, he holds a doctorate in liturgy from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm. García Macías joined the Dicastery in 2015 and served as its Undersecretary from May 2021, receiving episcopal ordination in 2021. The appointment of García Macías is seen as a continuity in the administrative structure of the Dicastery, as he has worked alongside Viola for five years.
The transition marks a shift in the leadership of one of the Vatican’s most visible institutions. Previous speculation in Rome had suggested that a cardinal might be chosen to succeed Gambetti, but the Pope opted for a non-cardinal figure with extensive experience in liturgical governance. While the specific operational challenges Viola will face at St. Peter’s are not detailed in the official announcement, the role carries significant weight in maintaining the basilica’s spiritual and physical integrity. The new leadership team will now focus on the ongoing management of the basilica and the liturgical functions of the Holy See.
The next phase of the administration will involve Viola assuming his duties at the basilica and García Macías taking the helm at the Dicastery for Divine Worship, ensuring the continuation of the liturgical policies established in recent years.
