Veteran Vatican diplomat Angelo Sodano has been appointed dean of the College of Cardinals, a key role held by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he was elected pope, the Vatican said today.
Sodano, a 77-year-old Italian, is also Pope Benedict's secretary of state, the Vatican's top diplomat, a position he held under Pope John Paul since 1990.
Sodano was elected by the cardinals and the appointment has now been approved by the pope. French cardinal Roger Etchegaray has been appointed Sodano's deputy, reinforcing the dominance of Europeans in the lead roles in the Catholic Church.
As dean of the College of Cardinals, Ratzinger delivered the sermon to cardinals before the conclave which elected him pope less than two weeks ago.
Ratzinger made a strong defence of traditional Vatican doctrines in his speech, making a powerful impression on the 115 cardinals who went on to elect him pope.