The director of the Holy See's Press Office, Matteo Bruni, has denied rumors about the dismissal of Msgr. Georg Gänswein as Prefect of the Papal Household.
Georg Gänswein has not appeared in public for several weeks, following the controversy over the publication of a book by Cardinal Sarah, with inserts by Benedict XVI on celibacy, and contradictory versions of the edition.
The Vatican explained 'the absence is due to an ordinary redistribution of various duties and functions of the Prefect of the Pontifical House, who also holds the role of personal secretary of Benedict XVI.'
Georg Gänswein has not attended the most recent General Audiences, nor important visits from leaders, such as the U.S. Vice President or the President of Argentina.
Since 2003, this German has been Joseph Ratzinger's personal secretary. He remained such in 2005 after Ratzinger's election as pope. Since late 2012, he has been the Prefect of the Papal Household, a position Pope Francis kept him in.
