Czech president meets with Vatican ambassador, possibly to discuss naming successor to Prague archbishop

President Václav Klaus received the Vatican ambassador to the Czech Republic Diego Causero on Friday at Prague Castle, reportedly to discuss the Vatican’s naming of a successor to replace the outgoing Prague archbishop, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk. It is accepted protocol for heads-of-state to be informed of the Vatican’s decision prior to the official announcement. Unofficial sources have claimed that Cardinal Vlk could be succeeded by Hradec Králové’s Bishop Dominik Duka; the Vatican could make an official announcement on Saturday. The bishop’s office, meanwhile, has not commented. In the past, the 66-year-old Bishop Duka was reserved when it came to speculation he might be named, saying it would be suitable for a younger candidate – one less impacted by the former totalitarian regime – to be chosen.