The reform of the Roman Curia, the function of the Vatican Secretariat of State and the role of the Synod of Bishops have occupied Pope Francis and his advisory council of cardinals during their first meeting. The three-day meeting opened with a talk by the Pope on the ecclesiology of the Second Vatican Council. This Read more
Pope Francis on Saturday confirmed the appointment of new officials in the Roman Curia. American Archbishop Augustine Di Noia was named an “adjunct secretary” of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he previously served as under-secretary from 2002 to 2009. Italian Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, previously the prefect of the Congregation for the Read more
Cardinal George Pell, one of eight cardinal advisors chosen by Pope Francis, believes the new Pope has “set a cracking pace” in his first 100 days in office. But the Sydney cardinal expressed some concern for the Pope’s health under the work regime he has set himself. “He’s not a young man and he seems Read more
Pope Francis I’s weekend announcement of a new council, the Group of Eight (G8), to advise him on Catholic Church governance and reforming the Church’s central administration (the Roman Curia) has been called the “most important step in the history of the church for the past 10 centuries” by Church historian Alberto Melloni. The group includes Australian Read more
Cardinal Claudio Hummes of Brazil has confirmed that he and other cardinals are convinced of the need for reform of the Roman Curia. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Avvenire — which is owned by the Italian Catholic bishops’ conference — he said : “The topic of the Roman Curia has been much discussed Read more
Sparks flew over the Vatican Bank when cardinals met on the eve of the conclave that elected Pope Francis, according to Vatican watcher Andrea Tornielli. The journalist said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, administrator of the Holy See until the new pope was elected, criticised Brazilian Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz for previously complaining about the management Read more
The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, has sent a letter around the Roman Curia, reminding clerics to turn up for work in traditional clerical garb — dog collar and black cassock. But an experienced Vatican-watcher suggests it is really a hint to those visiting from outside. Continue reading
The Vatican II council, which began 50 years ago next month, was the most momentous religious event in 450 years. On January 25, 1959, the newly elected Pope John XXIII invited 18 cardinals from the Vatican bureaucracy to attend a service at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. He told them Read more
The creation of a new post in the Vatican’s Ecclesia Dei commission is seen as evidence of Pope Benedict’s determination to achieve reconciliation between the Holy See and the Society of St Pius X. The commission, an outreach to traditionalist Catholics, was established in 1988 to with a particular aim of reconciliation with SSPX. In Read more