In a clear break with tradition, the pope has organised a vote among Italian bishops to choose the next head of the Catholic Church in Italy.
In the past it has always been the pontiff to name the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference. This reflected the traditionally intertwined relationship between the Vatican and the Italian Church.
That relationship now appears to be loosening as Benedict moves to bring the procedures into line with those
of other countries, where it is always the bishops that decide who will lead them.
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, who has headed the bishop's conference since 1991, is shortly to step down in line with the tradition that sees prelates relinquish important posts when they reach 75.
In recent days Italy's 226 bishops have received letters asking them to send their choice of successor to the pope's representative in Italy, Monsignor Paolo Romeo. The bishops were asked in the letters to keep the new selection process a secret because of the "important and delicate" nature of the choice.
Replacing Cardinal Ruini, for many years the most authoritative figure in the Italian church is no easy task.
As well as being head of the bishops, over the same period he has also held the prestigious post of papal
stand-in, or 'vicar', for the diocese of Rome. In another sign of the separation being created between
the Vatican and Italy, it now appears that the two roles are to be separated.
According to analysts in the Italian media, the favourite to succeed Ruini is Cardinal Angelo Scola, the
archbishop of Venice. Ruini is expected to step down later this year, possibly after the Italian church's national convention in October. It is unclear whether he will also quit the vicar's post.
