Pope appoints new Papal Almoner, names Cardinal Krajewski Archbishop of Łódź
Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín as the new Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity (Papal Almoner). Archbishop Marín de San Martín previously served as the Undersecretary of the Secretariat of the Synod since 2021. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the former Papal Almoner, was named the Metropolitan Archbishop of Łódź, Poland. Cardinal Krajewski had served as the Papal Almoner since 2013 and was elevated to Cardinal in 2018.
about 1 month ago
Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Luis Marín de San Martín, a Spanish Augustinian and longtime associate, as the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, also known as the Papal Almoner, on March 12, 2026.1 2 3
The Pope conferred the dignity of archbishop on Marín de San Martín, who previously served as undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops.2 3 5
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the outgoing prefect since 2013, was named metropolitan archbishop of Łódź, Poland, his home diocese.1 2 3
Born in Madrid in 1961, Marín de San Martín joined the Order of Saint Augustine, taking vows in 1982 and ordination in 1988.1 5 6
He holds doctorates in sacred theology and has served in various Augustinian roles, including prior of the Monastery of Santa María de la Vid and general archivist.1 5 6
A close collaborator of then-Prior General Robert Prevost (now Pope Leo XIV), they shared a Roman community for five years starting in 2008.1 3 6
Appointed bishop in 2021 by Pope Francis, he brings synodal experience and expertise in St. John XXIII's ecclesiology.3 5 6
Krajewski, 62, served three popes over 28 years in the Roman Curia, starting as master of ceremonies for John Paul II.1 2
Under Pope Francis, he elevated the almoner's profile with bold acts, like restoring electricity to homeless squatters in 2019 and delivering aid to Ukraine amid war.1 2 3
He led 10 missions to Ukraine, transporting ambulances and supplies, and managed global papal charity post-Praedicate Evangelium in 2022.1 2 6
Krajewski expressed joy at returning to Łódź, a major diocese with 1.3-2.5 million Catholics, to apply his Vatican experience locally.1 2
Pope Leo XIV personally invited him, emphasizing service to the faithful.2
Talks of his Polish return surfaced before, including after Kraków's archbishop resigned.1
Formerly the Office of Papal Charities, it was elevated to dicastery by Pope Francis in 2022, ranking third in the Curia.1 3
It handles worldwide aid in the Pope's name, solicits donations, and issues apostolic blessings on parchment.1 5
Francis transformed it from desk-bound to hands-on, urging almoners to seek out the poor.3 6
This marks Leo XIV's second dicastery head appointment, favoring fellow Augustinians.1
Observers see it as part of Curia reforms, with Marín's serenity suiting the role's demands.3 6
Krajewski embodies continuity across popes, while Marín signals Leo's personal network.1 6
Investigate Catholic tradition of appointing Augustinians to lead charity offices
The Catholic sources provided do not document a distinct tradition or historical pattern of appointing members of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) to lead charity offices, such as the Dicastery for the Service of Charity (formerly the Office of the Papal Almoner). While the Augustinian Rule and papal addresses highlight the order's deep commitment to communal charity, poverty, and service to the poor—making Augustinians eminently suitable for such roles—no references mention recurrent appointments of Augustinians to these positions. The current Prefect, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, is not an Augustinian, underscoring that such leadership is not reserved for the order.
The Dicastery for the Service of Charity, established under Praedicate Evangelium (2022), embodies the Pope's mercy toward the poor, vulnerable, and excluded. It carries out global aid in the Pontiff's name, especially in emergencies, and receives voluntary donations for these works. The Almoner (Prefect) demonstrates the Pope's pastoral solicitude amid extreme need, poverty, or disasters, collaborating with other dicasteries. This office has no canonical or traditional link to any religious order; appointments depend on the Pope's discretion, prioritizing mercy rooted in the "option for the poor."
No sources suggest Augustinians have historically dominated this role. Cardinal Krajewski, appointed Almoner in 2013 and elevated to cardinal in 2018, exemplifies a liturgical and pastoral background without Augustinian ties—his formation was in the Łódź diocese and Roman liturgical institutes.
Augustinians possess a charism inherently aligned with charity leadership, emphasizing communal life, evangelical poverty, and service. St. Augustine's Rule mandates shared goods, distribution according to need, and unity "in oneness of mind and heart" oriented to God, echoing Acts 4:32-35. This fosters a life where material and spiritual goods serve the poor, preventing pride and promoting humility among rich and poor alike.
Papal teachings reinforce this:
Prevost's biography highlights Augustinian service in missions, education, and formation, but his curial roles were in bishops' oversight and Latin America, not charity. This suitability—communal poverty and missionary charity—suggests why an Augustinian Pope might favor order members, yet no pattern emerges.
The references lack examples of past Augustinian Almoners or charity leaders. Charity's curial evolution (Praedicate Evangelium) prioritizes papal mercy over order-specific traditions. Broader patristic and medieval texts stress charity's universality (e.g., unity via love in St. John Chrysostom; charity as "mother of all virtues" in St. Gregory the Great), without tying it to Augustinians. Scholarly sources on grace-nature debates are tangential, noting Augustinian influences but not appointments.
While no tradition of appointing Augustinians to charity offices exists in the sources, their charism of shared poverty and service to the poor aligns seamlessly with the Dicastery's mission. This affinity reflects Catholic emphasis on charity as integral to all vocations, not confined to one order. Future appointments under Pope Leo XIV, an Augustinian, may draw on this heritage, but current evidence points to merit-based selection.