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∙THE SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE ORIENTAL CHURCH. Founded in 1862, it supervises the liturgical practices and canon law of 11 million Catholics who belong to five major Eastern Rites, worship in more than ten different languages, including English (used by Ukrainian Byzantines in Pittsburgh) and Ge'ez (used by 30,000 Catholics of the Ethiopic rite). The congregation's work is supervised by its prosecretary, newly created Gabriel Acacio Cardinal Coussa, 64, a bearded Melkite (Syrian Catholic).
∙THE SACRED CONGREGATION FOR PROPAGATING THE FAITH. The missionary arm of Rome, it watches over 35 million Catholics in Asia, Africa and much of Latin America. Concerned about the struggle of the church with Communism in these areas, Pius XII appointed one of the Vatican's wisest old hands as prefect: Gregory Peter XV Cardinal Agagianian, an Armenian who holds the ancient title of Patriarch of Cilicia.
∙THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE. The top job in the Vatican's Foreign Ministry was left vacant for 14 years under Pius XII (who preferred to carry on his own diplomacy), is now held by pudgy Amleto Cardinal Cicognani, 79, longtime (1933-58) apostolic delegate to the U.S.
∙THE SECRETARIAT FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY. One of the newest of Vatican bureaus, this secretariat is not considered part of the Curia, nonetheless rates as one of the most influential (and most public) branches of the church's government. It serves as the liaison office between Rome and non-Catholic churchmen, will handle the invitations to Protestant and Orthodox leaders who are expected to attend the Second Vatican Council in October as observers. The presiding cleric: Augustin Cardinal Bea, 81, a German Jesuit who was confessor to Pope Pius XII.
The Papabile. Recently, one of the older cardinals (average age, 70) was asked by a newsman how the Princes of the Church spent their time. "They work all day long," he answered, "but don't write that. Nobody would believe it."Actually, despite Roman cynicism which insists that dilata (delayed) is the Curia's favorite word, cardinals who are well enough to work put in fairly busy days. One of the busiest of such active cardinals is the Consistorial Congregation's Confalonieri, who was made a cardinal (along with 22 others) at Pope John's first consistory in 1958, given his present, powerful job last year. A moderate with few enemies in the Sacred College, Confalonieri is of the right, ripe age (68), and has the right kind of diplomatic temperament to be considered papabile—capable of becoming Pope after John XXIII dies.
Confalonieri ranks relatively high in the ever-fluctuating scale of Vatican influence. Probably the most powerful of Roman cardinals is Holy Officer Alfredo Ottaviani. Almost totally blind, Ottaviani is not likely to succeed Pope John, partly because his political views are too conservative by modern Vatican standards, partly because too many cardinals fear the authoritarian rule he might impose. Ottaviani might well try to throw the next papal election to another conservative, such as Giuseppe Cardinal Siri, 55, Archbishop of Genoa. A brilliant administrator, Siri is notorious for his opposition to ecclesiastical innovation: although most of the dockworkers in his diocese must work mornings, he refuses to allow pastors to say Mass in the afternoon.