The eight Cardinals, appointed by Pope Francis, who come from around the world will be looking to reshape the current administration of the Church.

When he is in New Zealand, Cardinal Rodrigues, who is also the President of Caritas Internationalis, will meet with the New Zealand Bishops and with the staff of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand.

A personal decree known as a "chirografo" issued by Francis said their official task of the advisory council is to advise him on "governance of the universal church" and help him revise the Pastor Bonus, the apostolic constitution on the curia drawn up by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

Indications are that that revision could be dramatic and could possibly lead to a new constitution.

Cardinal Rodríguez told Italian television last weekend that the group were not planning to just change "this and that".

"No, that constitution is over."

"Now it's something different. We need to write something different. But it's not going to take one month or two months." He said.

Cardinal Rodríguez said his group had received suggestions on Vatican reform from around the world, including 80 pages of suggestions from Latin America. The convergence on a few main themes suggested God's will was at work, he said.

"You cannot have millions of Catholics in the world suggesting the same unless the Holy Spirit is inspiring."

The pope's spokesman, Federico Lombardi, said that throughout the three-day summit, the cardinals are meeting with the pope and a secretary in a private library in the apostolic palace. The pope's role is primarily to listen to what the men have to say.

The main language is Italian, but the cardinals are able to dip into their native tongue if needed. There will be no interpreters present. All are staying, alongside Francis, in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse in the Vatican.

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference
• news.com.au
• The Telegraph
• The Guardian
• Image: Scottish Catholic Observer
  

The group includes Australian cardinal George Pell, who effectively represents Oceania in its concerns. These concerns could include our distance from decision-making in Rome, the appointment of bishops, and the understanding of our region. More general concerns for the G8 may include making the central administration more efficient, improving social communications, and recruiting more professional lay people, including women.

The decision to create the new advisory group seems a positive move to address the various scandals that have gripped the Vatican. Yet, the G8 has larger implications. It is formed in the context of a long-running debate about collegiality amongst the bishops and emerges from discussions that occurred before the recent conclave that elected Pope Francis.

"Collegiality" is a term used by Catholics to refer to the shared responsibility for the care of the Church that is held by the College of Bishops, with the pope (who is bishop of Rome) as head. Much debate over collegiality centres on the balance of power, responsibility and cooperation, particularly amongst the pope and the bishops.

While there have been some forums designed to promote collegiality since the Second Vatican Council, some bishops have been reported as feeling somewhat marginalised as power has been centralised. Nevertheless, for the bishops themselves, collegiality not only concerns power and identity, but more importantly, the mission of the Church: that the members of Church (especially the leadership) are working together - not at cross-purposes - to advance the cause of Christianity in the world. Continue reading

Sources

• Joel Hodge in The Conversation
• Image: Vassallomalta

Joel Hodge is a lecturer in theology at Australian Catholic University.