He is happy to be back home, but after living nearly six years in Rome, Msgr. Paul F. deLadurantaye admits that he longs for his daily “pausa-caffè” ritual (morning coffee break with colleagues) and his favorite Italian meal — Pasta All’Amatriciana — a tomato-based dish with pork jowl, combined with pepper flakes and white wine.
“It was just an excellent meal,” said Msgr. deLadurantaye.
He worked at the English Section of the Vatican Secretariat of State, which is responsible for 120 English-speaking countries. “It was very interesting to live there and interact with citizens — with the Italian mind and mentality — their way of life and doing things,” said Msgr. deLadurantaye. “Very few Italians have problems with stress. Certainly, in the Italian character there’s an enjoyment of life.”
Fluent in Italian, Msgr. deLadurantaye served as an English interpreter for Pope Francis from 2018 to June 2024, writing official letters and facilitating conversations with heads of state, celebrities, dignitaries of all kinds, and English-speaking bishops.
“It was sometimes a little nerve-wracking because you wanted to say the right thing and not mess up too badly, but it was a wonderful experience because the pope was very patient,” he said. “He didn’t mind if I made a little mistake and was always very kind and gentle. He knew what he wanted to say and when we presented different issues to him, he would respond very beautifully with great encouragement. So, it was a very good model to see that. He was very pastoral in that setting.”
Just a few days before leaving Rome, Msgr. deLadurantaye was surprised to learn that the pope had named him “Chaplain to His Holiness” with the title monsignor June 25. When he said goodbye to the pope three days later, following a two-hour meeting translating for the bishops of Ethiopia, he was wearing a monsignor’s cassock. “When they had all departed, I said to the Holy Father, ‘Today is my last day,’ ” said Msgr. deLadurantaye. “He thanked me for my service and wished me God’s blessings. It was very nice.”
Being addressed as monsignor has been an adjustment. “I was ordained in 1988, so for 36 years it’s always been, ‘Hey Father,’ ” he said. “Now people will catch themselves after calling me ‘Father,’ and I say, ‘Oh, don’t worry about it.’ ”
Msgr. deLadurantaye also has the new job title of diocesan chancellor. “It is with great joy that I welcome Msgr. deLadurantaye home to the diocese as chancellor,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge. “I am confident that just as his time in Rome and his service to the Holy See was a gift to the universal church, so too is his presence here a gift to our local church. “
Canon law prescribes for every diocese to have a chancellor who has two responsibilities. One is overseeing the archives and second is to be the secretary to the curia, to keep the records and to act as a notary, witnessing the signature of the bishop on official documents.
Bishop Burbidge also assigned Msgr. deLadurantaye to grant permission for marriages that need permission such as a mixed marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic or to grant dispensation to a Catholic who wants to marry an unbaptized person, or if a marriage is taking place outside the diocese, “We forward all the paperwork to the place where the marriage will be. You can’t do that unless everything is in order and that’s my role,” said Msgr. deLadurantaye. “If everything is in order, we grant permission.”
Returning home has given Msgr. deLadurantaye renewed appreciation of the enthusiasm for the faith in the diocese. “There’s an idea, as Pope Francis urges, of being missionary disciples, going out and spreading the joy of the Gospel, leading others to an encounter with Christ and accompanying them in their spiritual journey,” he said. “I think that’s been the case since the diocese was founded.”
Yes, he does miss his lemon and strawberry gelato, and walking to work in Rome, but Msgr. deLadurantaye relishes his new job. He thinks the diocese is on solid ground and wants all Catholics to know that the work of evangelism must continue.
“Now that we’re marking 50 years as a diocese, which is still young, our youth gives us an advantage because with that youth comes the enthusiasm for continuing the good work that has begun and building upon it,” he said. “We want to keep building so when people encounter us, as Catholics, we can become more and more transparent to the grace of Jesus working through us. This is God’s plan of love, and we want to know it and live it so that we can share life with him now and in eternity.”
