Cardinal Pell to Rome

The Italian press is reporting that Cardinal Pell will be leaving Australia and heading to Rome to become prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

When the official announcement comes, it will mark a loss for Australia and a gain for Rome—say I, who probably shouldn’t, since I am an unabashed admirer of the man, who has written such serious work for First Things as:

Intolerant Tolerance (August/September 2009)

Priest to Pontiff (October 2009)

The Inconvenient Conscience (May 2005)

Islam and Us (June/July 2006)