B16's Curia changes: Avalanches start small.

Word on the street today is the Benedict is beginning his oft-anticipated shakedown:

From CWN:

"Vatican, Mar. 11 - Pope Benedict XVI has made his first major changes in the organization of the Roman Curia, with two mergers of existing pontifical councils.

The Pontifical Council for Migrants and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace have been merged into one unit, to be headed by Cardinal Renato Martino, who had been heading the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The changes were announced by the Vatican on March 11.

Similarly the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue has been merged with the Pontifical Council for Culture, with Cardinal Paul Poupard, the current head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, to head the combined effort."

...

"The changes are likely to be followed by more appointments and shifts in responsibilities among the leaders of the Roman Curia. Vatican-watchers expect a merger of the offices dealing with public affairs for the Vatican, for example."

Read the rest of the story to find out what may be on the horizon.

Dom has his reaction here.

Zadok makes a good point:

"Incidentally, some of you may be curious as to what Culture has to do with Inter-religious Dialogue. The Pontifical Council for Culture used to be known as the Pontifical Council for Non-believers. In the early 1990s, the title of the Council was changed to reflect a broadening of its interests and a certain sensitivity of nomenclature. It should be noted that The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity remains a seperate entity, but dialogue with non-Christians, non-believers and modern culture as a whole is now to be dealt with by the one Council."

And if you haven't heard this little juicy tidbit yet, Magister speculates that Sodano is next.