Pope Francis Appoints Commissioner to Oversee Rome 1basilica’s Financial Assets

Makrickas, from Lithuania, has been head of administration in the Secretariat of State since August 2019. The 49-year-old priest previously worked at the apostolic nunciature in Washington, D.C. from 2013 to 2017.

Before being called to Rome, Makrickas was chargé d’affaires at the apostolic nunciature of Gabon and counselor to the apostolic nunciature in Congo.

The Chapter of the papal major basilica has existed since at least the 1200s, according to documentation. Today, the entity consists of the basilica’s archpriest Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, 24 priests called canons, and coadjutors, who are appointed by the pope.

Pope Francis has a custom of visiting the Basilica of St. Mary Major before and after his foreign trips, praying before the icon of Salus Populi Romani, Mary Protection of the Roman People.

The Chapter experienced significant abuse of its financial assets starting more than a decade ago, when the Chapter’s treasurer, Msgr. Bronisław Morawiec, used his position to embezzle money from the basilica.

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Morawiec was convicted of fraud, forgery, and embezzlement by the Vatican Tribunal in 2014, and sentenced to four years in prison. He was also ordered to pay back 250,000 euros (around $280,000) to the Chapter.

Hannah Brockhaus is Catholic News Agency's senior Rome correspondent. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has a degree in English from Truman State University in Missouri.