May 16, 2011. (Romereports.com) Benedict XVI has elevated a lay Catholic as a secretary in a department of the Vatican Curia, this is the highest position ever held by a non-cleric in the Vatican. The Uruguayan professor Guzmán Carriquiry has been named as the secretary for the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.


The commission was originally created by Pope Pius XII in 1958 to provide support and advice for the churches of Latin America.

Until now, Professor Carriquiry was the undersecretary for the Pontifical Council for the Laity and bring years of experience working with the Church of Latin America, as well as different lay movements in the region.

Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, the 67 year old Carriquiry is married with four children and has worked with the Holy See for over forty years; he was a collaborator of Paul VI, John Paul II, and currently Benedict XVI.

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