According to reports by usually well-informed Vatican observers, Pope Francis will shortly announce that the Order of Malta (SMOM) is getting a new Cardinal Protector instead of Cardinal Sardi who is 80 years old. The new Cardinal Protector is reported to be US Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke who at present is the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Church, the Segnatura. The post of Cardinal Protector of the Order of Malta is not considered to be a key Vatican post, although it was held by distinguished cardinals in the past. Rumours in the Vatican had speculated that Cardinal Burke was going to be the Archbishop of Chicago but it now seems Cardinal Burke will join the list of cardinals removed from their office by the present Pope. According to well-known Vatican expert Sandro Magister, Cardinal Burke is more on the lines of Pope Ratzinger, has many times celebrated Mass in the Tridentine form, has spoken out publicly against giving Communion to politicians who are in favour of abortion (and in this two fellow US cardinals disagreed with him) and has recently spoken out against giving Communion to divorced Catholics.