Two new heads have been appointed to the first section of the Dicastery for the Evangelization of Peoples by Pope Francis. Monsignor Erwin Aserios Balagapo and Monsignor Han (Agostino) Hyuntaek will serve as officials in the Dicastery for a period of five years.
Both Monsignors have impressive academic backgrounds. In 2013, Monsignor Balagapo authored “Matrimony and Family: A Human Reality par Excellence According to the Teachings of Karol Wojtyla.” On the other hand, Monsignor Hyuntaek is recognized for his studies on the Baptism of Christ according to Thomas Aquinas and his participation in a conference on the missionary journey to Japan of Giovanni Battista Sidotti.
Their roles will involve leading the office under the Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, which is overseen by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
As part of the Curia’s reform, the Dicastery for the Evangelization, previously known as the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, has also taken on the responsibilities of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. Under the leadership of Pope Francis, the Dicastery consists of two sections—one focusing on fundamental evangelization issues globally and the other dedicated to first evangelization and new particular Churches within its jurisdictional territories—each led by a pro-prefect.
