Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Papal Almoner and Sends Cardinal Krajewski to Lead Archdiocese of Łódź
Pope Leo XIV has announced significant leadership changes within the Vatican’s charitable structures and the Polish Church by appointing Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín as the new Papal Almoner and naming Cardinal Konrad Krajewski as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Łódź in Poland. The decision reflects a transition within the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, the Vatican office responsible for coordinating charitable outreach on behalf of the Pope. Archbishop Marín de San Martín, a member of the Augustinian order who previously served as Undersecretary of the Secretariat of the Synod, will now oversee the Church’s global charity initiatives while being elevated to the rank of archbishop.
The Dicastery for the Service of Charity plays a central role in the Vatican’s humanitarian mission, particularly through the office historically known as the Papal Almoner. This position manages direct charitable assistance distributed in the name of the Pope and coordinates emergency aid to vulnerable communities around the world. Archbishop Marín de San Martín’s appointment signals continuity in the Vatican’s emphasis on practical service to the poor and marginalized. His experience within the Synod of Bishops has involved dialogue across global Catholic communities, and his new role will place him at the center of initiatives that channel resources from the Vatican toward social assistance, disaster response and humanitarian outreach.
At the same time Pope Leo XIV reassigned Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who has served as Papal Almoner since 2013, to lead the Archdiocese of Łódź in Poland. Cardinal Krajewski, originally from the city, has spent more than a decade coordinating charitable efforts directly linked to the papacy. During his tenure he became widely recognized for personally delivering humanitarian assistance in conflict zones and areas of social crisis. His work included numerous missions to Ukraine where he transported ambulances and emergency supplies to communities affected by war. These actions reinforced the Vatican’s tradition of charity carried out not only through financial aid but also through direct pastoral presence.
Cardinal Krajewski’s service within the Vatican spans nearly three decades. Earlier in his career he worked closely with successive pontiffs after being appointed Pontifical Master of Ceremonies during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. He later continued in similar roles under Pope Benedict XVI and briefly under Pope Francis. In 2013 Pope Francis chose him to lead the office of the Papal Almoner, encouraging him to extend the Church’s charitable outreach beyond the walls of the Vatican and into direct contact with those in need. The experience shaped the cardinal’s reputation as a pastoral figure deeply involved in humanitarian initiatives.
Reflecting on his years of service in Rome, Cardinal Krajewski described the transition as an opportunity to bring the lessons learned in the universal Church back to a local diocese. The Archdiocese of Łódź is one of the largest ecclesiastical jurisdictions in Poland and serves a population of more than two million people. The cardinal noted that his return to his homeland carries personal meaning because the city is his birthplace. He expressed readiness to apply his experience of global Church service to the pastoral needs of the local Catholic community.
Church observers say the appointment represents both continuity and renewal within the Vatican’s charitable mission. By selecting Archbishop Marín de San Martín to lead the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, Pope Leo XIV is entrusting the office to a leader experienced in ecclesial governance and synodal dialogue. Meanwhile Cardinal Krajewski’s reassignment to Łódź highlights the Vatican’s practice of rotating senior church leaders between central administration and pastoral leadership roles within local dioceses.
The Dicastery for the Service of Charity was formally established as a central Vatican department through the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, which reorganized the Roman Curia. Under this framework the office gained greater institutional status within the Church’s governance structure, emphasizing charity as a fundamental dimension of the Church’s mission. Through the work of the Papal Almoner and related initiatives the dicastery continues to distribute aid, support humanitarian projects and respond to crises affecting vulnerable populations.
These appointments form part of the broader governance responsibilities exercised by Pope Leo XIV as he continues shaping the leadership of key Vatican institutions. Changes within the Curia and the global episcopate are closely watched because they often signal priorities within the Church’s pastoral and administrative direction. The transition within the Dicastery for the Service of Charity underscores the enduring importance of charitable service as a central expression of the Catholic Church’s global mission.
