Joseph Ratzinger has always had serious reservations about Piero Marini, choreographer of John Paul II's masses. In this article, Sandro Magister asserts that "Gregorian chant and polyphony have been mostly removed, and their place in the papal rites has been given frequently to music, texts, and dances taken from Latin America, Africa, and Asia."
Thank you for the information regarding this change. Obviously, the mainstream media would not cover this one. It should be interesting to see what His Holiness has planned for the future.
I suggest you to read this article:
Mgr. Marini is going to be changed (probably at the end of summer), and at his place is strongly recommended Mgr. Camaldo: a very important change, according to the love of Liturgy of Benedict XVI.
Here are the relevant parts of the article referenced by Mr. Siffi:
Pope Ratzinger [sic] Prepares the New “Squad”
The nomination of the new secretary of state from among the candidates Bertone, Nicora, Baldelli, Sepe and the Argentine Sandri is predicted for autumn
Archbishop Piero Marini may lose his assignment as master of ceremonies
by Andrea Tornielli
Quick translation by Daniel Muller
It will be a summer of intense work for Pope Ratzinger. Not so much because of the preparation for his first international trip for the World Youth Day in Cologne, from the 18th to the 21st of this coming August, but rather due to the appointments and changes that Benedict XVI will have to make in the autumn. As is known, three days after the election which took place on April 19, the new Pontiff renamed Angelo Sodano as secretary of state and for the moment confirmed the cardinals and archbishops as heads of dicasteries in the Roman curia. The first, and to date only, important appointment made by Benedict XVI to the Roman curia was the most urgent and concerned the position of Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, left vacant by himself. The Pope has called the American archbishop William Levada to preside over the onetime Holy Office.
The Secretary of State
This is the most important and crucial assignment: Benedict XVI, before putting his hand to changes or reforms, will probably want to form a squad of close collaborators who will assist him. Cardinal Sodano is already 77 years old … [possible appointments]
Musical Chairs [Curial appointments for prefects over 75, not translated]
The Master of Ceremonies
After long service at the side of John Paul II, it is possible that the master of ceremonies, Archbishop Piero Marini, may also lose his position. The changes, more than physiological, are favored by the fact that in matters liturgical Benedict XVI has very precise ideas and is rather resistant to change. To Monsignor Marini also belongs the merit of having “constructed” papal liturgies that made it possible for John Paul II to celebrate Mass to the end notwithstanding his incapacitating illness. But in the Roman curia there are those who did not tolerate dances to the sound of exotic instruments for the opening of the Holy Door at the Jubilee or the excessive originality of the cappa magna on that same occasion. If accepted, the ceremonial prelate will be sent to an Italian diocese, or to another curial assignment. It is likely that the choice of his successor come from within the papal liturgical celebrations office: the most senior candidate is Francesco Camaldo, but there are also the names of Enrico Viganò or Giulio Viviani. Certainly, the new master of ceremonies will not be ordained a bishop. Another unknown is represented in the ex-secretary of Ratzinger, Monsignor Jozef Clemens, now bishop and secretary of the pontifical council for the laity. The prelate has offered his help to the Pope, proposing to do what Father Stanislao has done for Wojtyla. But for the moment Benedict XVI has decided to delay.
Air of the Consistory
When will Pope Ratzinger create his first new cardinals? It is probable that he will want to have attended to clarifying his postings in the Curia. It is guessed that the consistory could come at the beginning of December. Awaiting the scarlet are the archbishops of Bologna (Carlo Cafarra), Paris, Toledo, Boston, Brasilia, and Krakow. Besides, in the Vatican curia, there are awaiting the prefect of the apostolic Segnatura, Vallini, the new prefect of the doctrine of the faith Levada, the new archpriest of Saint Peter’s Comastri, and some presidents of pontifical councils. It is possible that Pope Ratzinger wish to remedy a scandalous exclusion from the last consistory, that of Monsignor De Magistris, now Apostolic Penitentiary, who has held a cardinal’s position for several years and was sent away without the scarlet.
Reforms [not translated]
Ecumenism and Encyclicals [not translated; includes a reference to outreach to “traditionalists” as part of ecumenism]
Original text: Italian © SOCIETÀ EUROPEA DI EDIZIONI SPA - Via G. Negri 4 - 20123 Milano