Pope Leo XIV has removed Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia as the Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences, appointing Cardinal Baldassare Reina in his place.
Paglia’s tenure was marked by controversy, including public statements on bioethics and LGBTQ+ issues that sparked dismay among Catholic conservatives.
In one of the first major appointments of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV has replaced the controversial president of the John Paul II Institute, which was itself gutted by Pope Francis in 2019.
As announced by the Holy See Press Office today, Leo XIV has named Cardinal Baldassare Reina as the Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Theological Institute “John Paul II” for the Sciences of Marriage and the Family.
The Institute, more commonly known as the “John Paul II Institute,” has been led by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia as Grand Chancellor since 2016. Paglia – who turned 80 a few weeks ago – enjoyed notable prominence during Francis’ pontificate and was a key figure in implementing the changes to both pontifical institutes as ordered by Francis.
The gutting of the John Paul II Institute began in earnest in 2019, with the dismissal of its president, Monsignor Livio Melina, and the immediate suspension of all professors.
Staff were subsequently selected who advocated for moral positions contrary to those previously defended by the Institute – such as defending homosexuality and contraception.
Paglia himself has become increasingly controversial due to his comments on several issues relating to life and family.
He defended assisted suicide, advocated for contraception, and attacked Catholics who held moral objections to abortion-tainted COVID-19 injections.
Cardinal Reina’s appointment is being welcomed by pro-life advocates. Reina, created cardinal in December 2024, is the vicar general of the Diocese of Rome. His record on pro-life matters is believed to be more orthodox than that of the man he is replacing.
Paglia remains as president of the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAV), while Monsignor Philippe Bordeyne, whose views on traditional Catholic morality and homosexual advocacy have also given many cause for concern, remains as president of the John Paul II Institute.