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Confirmation that Pope Francis intends a complete overhaul of the Roman Curia has been made official following the first meeting of the Council of Cardinals appointed to help the Pope govern the Church.
The aim is to emphasise the Curia’s role of service to the universal Church and the local churches “in terms of subsidiarity, rather than the exercise of centralised power”, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said in a media briefing.
Currently the Curia operates under an apostolic constitution called Pastor Bonus (The Good Shepherd), drawn up by Pope John Paul II when he reformed the Curia in 1988.
Father Lombardi said a new constitution can be expected — not a “simple upgrade”.
“The cardinals have made it clear that they do not intend to make cosmetic retouches or minor modifications to Pastor Bonus,” he said.
Father Lombardi said the Pope and the eight cardinals also considered the role of the Vatican Secretariat of State and believed it should be reoriented to be “the secretariat of the Pope”. This orientation would be part of the guidelines given to the newly appointed Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Paroli, who takes office on October 15.
In addition, a separate figure acting as a “Moderator of the Curia” could be appointed to co-ordinate relations between the Pope and the heads of the various Vatican departments and offices.
Father Lombardi said one of the topics mentioned most often in the suggestions received from around the world was concern for the role of the laity in the Church and in the world.
The Pope and his cardinal advisers talked about “how to ensure that this dimension of the Church’s reality is more adequately and effectively recognised and followed in the governance of the Church,” Father Lombardi said.
He said the Pontifical Council for the Laity is “very active”, but does not have the profile or authority of a Vatican congregation, such as those for bishops, for priests and for religious.
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Image: Salt and Light TV
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News category: World.
