Pope Leo XIV has appointed San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Catholic Church's highest court. The appointment comes after Cordileone barred then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from receiving Holy Communion due to her support for abortion rights.
Cordileone was among seven clergy named to the tribunal, which oversees the administration of justice within the Church. He will serve a five-year term while continuing to lead the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
In 2022, Cordileone stated that Pelosi's pro-abortion stance constituted a 'manifestly grave sin' and cited Church law in barring her from Communion. The archbishop expressed gratitude for the appointment, calling it a 'profound sense of stewardship.'
The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura is composed of cardinals, bishops, and priests appointed by the pope. The tribunal is led by the Cardinal Prefect and handles judicial matters within the Church.