Pope Francis Names New Economy Prefect as Father Guerrero Resigns ‘For Personal Reasons’

The 63-year-old Jesuit priest began his term as prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy in January 2020.

Father Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves.
Father Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves. (photo: Courtesy photo / Office of Communication Society of Jesus)

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has appointed a Spanish layman to lead the Secretariat for the Economy following the resignation of Jesuit Father Juan Antonio Guerrero, “for personal reasons.”

Maximino Caballero Ledo, 62, has been secretary general, the second-ranking position, in the economy office since August 2020. 

Before coming to the Vatican, Caballero was vice president of international finance at Baxter Healthcare, Inc., a medical products company. From Merida, Spain, he lived and worked in the United States from 2007-2020.

Father Guerrero is also from Merida, Spain, and a childhood friend of Caballero. The 63-year-old Jesuit priest began his term as prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy in January 2020.

The Vatican said Nov. 30 that Pope Francis had accepted Father Guerrero’s resignation “for personal reasons.” The resignation takes effect Dec. 1.

The Pope “warmly thanks Father Guerrero for the dedication shown in his service to the Holy See,” the statement said. “Father Guerrero managed to sort out the economy for the better, it was a strong and challenging work that bore much fruit. The Holy Father assures him of His prayers.”

Father Guerrero and Caballero were childhood friends who grew up in the same city in Spain. Caballero told Vatican News after his appointment in August 2020 that the two were close friends through university and had remained in contact.

Caballero has degrees in economics and business administration, and has worked for businesses in Spain and the United States in positions of international finance.

He has been married for 33 years to Immaculada, and they have two adult children.

When appointed to work in the Vatican’s economy office in 2020, Caballero described it as “God’s call,” saying that for he and his wife, “there was only one response: ‘fiat.’”

Pope Francis established the Secretariat for Economy in 2014 as part of his financial reform of the Vatican. It oversees the financial aspects of both the Roman Curia and the Vatican City State administration, including a review of financial reports.

Father Guerrero, who has been a Jesuit since 1979, has a degree in economics from the Autonomous University of Madrid and degrees in theology, philosophy, and letters.

Before becoming prefect, the priest had been living in Rome since 2017, serving as general counselor and delegate of the superior general for the interprovincial houses and works of the Jesuits.

Father Guerrero had filled a position left vacant since February 2019, when the Vatican confirmed Cardinal George Pell’s five-year term as prefect to have expired.

Cardinal Pell had taken a leave of absence beginning in June 2017, when he returned to his country of Australia to defend himself at trial against charges of historic sex abuse.

The cardinal was initially convicted and imprisoned, but later had his conviction overturned on appeal. He was released and moved back to Rome, where he lives in retirement.